Ranger Electric Vehicle adds a long-range battery option


The 1999 Ranger electric compact pickup truck builds on its reputation for convenience this fall with a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery option that extends driving range to nearly 100 miles between charges.

The NiMH vehicle will be available in October as a three-year lease option.

Ford also is testing an electric vehicle fast-charging system that will significantly improve the usable daily range of electric vehicles by charging a battery pack in minutes, rather than hours. The PosiCharge fast charger, developed by California-based AeroVironment Inc., can recharge 80 percent of the Ranger EV's batter in less than 20 minutes, allowing it to be driven well over 150 miles per day on an affordable lead-acid battery.

Ranger EV, based on the Regular Cab model, qualifies as a ZEV (zero emission vehicle) through a state-of-the-art advanced battery program first tested on the Ford Ecostar, a demonstration EV launched in 1993 that has accumulated more than I million test miles.

A lead-acid battery system, tucked underneath the truck in a two-tier stack, powers Ranger EV for a driving range of about 50 miles between charges.  Relying on a conductive charging system - the traditional system of connecting electronics to power sources - the on-board charger transfers the electricity via a 240-volt plug, in about six hours.

A supporting tray made of strong, lightweight composite materials needs just six bolts to secure the 2,000-pound battery modules, which are integrated with other components in one system. As part of a complete vehicle diagnostic system, a second-generation battery thermal management system monitors each of the 39 individually sealed lead-acid modules, and is in constant communication with the powertrain and other vehicle components.

The battery management system continuously monitors the battery pack for service needs. Potentially serious problems are brought to the driver's attention by a dashboard light. Minor problems, such as a weakening battery cell, are stored in the system for a technician to address during checkups.

A specialized computer, the Traction Inverter Module (TIM) located in the vehicle's rear, directly behind the motor and transaxle, controls the powertrain. By monitoring, driver controls, including the accelerator and brake, TIM can regulate the power flow to other vehicle systems, providing seamless coordination between driver and vehicle.

Ranger EV's versatile transaxle - a second-generation version of the Costar transsexual - is designed for both front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Safety features are designed to build confidence in the new technology:

• The Current Leakage Detection System, overseen by the Battery Control Module (BC), illuminates a hazard-warning lamp in the instrument panel if an electrical current leak is detected.
• High-voltage interlocks prevent electrical accidents by shutting off high-voltage energy when connectors are disconnected or when the high-voltage power distribution box's internal circuitry is exposed.
• The Inertia Shutoff Switch cuts off the high-voltage energy supply in the event of an accident.
• Emergency Power Off (EPA) is a fail-safe feature that safeguards