Ford Escape Hybrid E85 Paves Way for Ethanol Vehicles

At last year’s Washington, D.C. Auto Show, Ford unveiled the Escape Hybrid E85, a prototype version of its compact hybrid SUV capable of running on blends of fuel of up to 85 percent ethanol. At this year’s show, Ford displayed the first Escape Hybrid E85 that is scheduled for delivery imminently – one of 20 demonstration vehicles that will eventually enter into fleet service in six different states. The Escape Hybrid E85 is the first hybrid vehicle that can run on E85, and produces about 25 percent less carbon dioxide than the conventional Escape Hybrid – already the world’s cleanest small SUV, according to Ford.

Why haven’t we seen this seemingly logical marriage of hybrid technology and E85 before? While tailpipe emissions are low on E85, evaporative emissions are a challenge due to the higher volatility of ethanol fuel. This is why the PZEV certification – which requires virtually zero evaporative emissions – hasn’t yet been applied to ethanol flexible fuel vehicles.

Hybrid vehicles like the Escape Hybrid present a further complication by operating some of the time with their engines off, which leaves the evaporative vacuum system unengaged. Ford is addressing these issues by improving the efficiency of the systems that trap fuel vapors and also working to prevent the generation of vapors in the first place.

Combining hybrid and flexible fuel technologies could potentially have major benefits: Ford says 140 million barrels of oil would be saved if five percent of U.S. vehicles were E85-powered hybrids. Until E85-capable hybrids are production ready, Ford is continuing to ramp up both technologies separately. Hybrid versions of the Mazda Tribute, Ford Fusion, and Mercury Milan are forthcoming, and Ford has committed to making half its vehicle fleet flexible fuel capable by 2012. The company is also supporting programs such as the Midwest Ethanol Corridor to increase the number of E85 fuel stations in the U.S.