Ford P2000 SUV shows breakthrough technologies on a lightweight sport utility

DETROIT,  -- The Ford P2000 SUV concept is a sport utility vehicle with off-road functionality and truck toughness, along with significantly improved fuel economy to address environmental concerns.

Lightweight, with a clean, efficient powertrain, P2000 SUV has low rolling resistance tires and improved aerodynamics.

"The P2000 SUV is part of Ford's P2000 research program to develop clean and fuel-efficient technologies for the future, while exploring just one possible combination of what might be in store for SUVs," said Bill Powers, vice president, Research. "We're analyzing literally hundreds of technologies in collaboration with the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles and within Ford as proprietary projects. As these technologies become practical, durable, reliable and cost-effective, they will be implemented in production."

The P2000 SUV fuel cell is just the beginning of the technical innovations aimed at developing a virtually emissions-free vehicle with breakthrough fuel efficiency.

Among the technological advances showcased in the P2000 SUV:

• Aluminum body in white, frame, suspension and closures provide major weight savings of as much as 50 percent compared with conventional designs. Through computer-aided design and advanced aluminum alloys, the P2000 SUV retains the same tortional and bending stiffness as conventional vehicles.
• Secondary weight savings are achieved when weight savings in one area permit weight reductions in other areas. For example, the aluminum body and frame enable the use of smaller, lighter springs.
• Variable vehicle height suspension, which can be raised or lowered 3 inches front and rear, merges the obvious benefits of riding high off road for ground clearance with riding low on the highway for reduced aerodynamic drag and better fuel economy.

The extremely efficient fuel cell powertrain allows the convenient use of methanol fuel, which is processed on board into hydrogen. The fuel cell uses oxygen from the air and hydrogen to form electricity. Water vapor is the main byproduct of the process.

The P2000 SUV's fuel cell was developed under Ford's partnership with Ballard Power Systems and DaimlerChrysler AG.

The P2000 program is associated with Ford's participation in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), a collaboration among Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler AG, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Canadian government and others. PNGV aims to develop an ultra energy-efficient midsize car with up to triple the fuel economy.

"Ford has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy on developing fuel cells for automotive applications since 1994," said Vince Fazio, Ford's director of the PNGV. "During that period, we've made dramatic progress in reducing the size, weight and cost of fuel cells while increasing power output. The P2000 SUV demonstrates that Ford is exploring applications of these technologies beyond midsize cars."