Ford SUV fuel economy goal is elusive

[biker16]

Autonews.com

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> By Richard Truett
Automotive News / April 15, 2002

Eighteen months after Former CEO Jacques Nasser vowed with fanfare that Ford Motor Co. would boost the fuel economy of its sport-utility fleet 25 percent to 23 mpg by 2005, the automaker has made little progress toward that goal.

In the first year of that effort, the 2001 model year, the sales-weighted fuel economy average of its sport-utility fleet jumped 7 percent, from 18 mpg to 19.25 mpg. That leap was driven by the Ford Escape, a compact sport-utility that went on sale in September 2000 and was not included in the 18-mpg calculation.

Ford doesn't expect to see a similar jump this year, but it is sticking by its promise of a 25 percent improvement.

"Most of the actions will be toward the end of the time because it will take some technologies that are not there yet," Ford spokeswoman Sara Tatchio said.

Ford reaped positive publicity from its announcement, drawing praise from environmentalists and government officials. General Motors, feeling stung, countered that its trucks already were more fuel efficient than Ford's and said it would maintain that edge.

But all of the braggadocio about boosting sport-utility fuel economy was silenced this spring as most of the industry united to kill an effort in Congress to boost fuel economy standards by 50 percent over the next 13 years. Automakers warned that the tougher standards would force them to stop making some sport-utilities or alter them in ways that would displease consumers.

All Ford Motor Co. sport-utilities introduced since the Escape, including Mercury, Lincoln and Land Rover models, have had fuel economy ratings similar to those of the previous model.

But the same has been true for sport-utilities introduced by Ford's chief competitors, GM and the Chrysler group. <hr></blockquote>

[focalBlur]

solutions:
1)Diesel power

2)Hybrid drive trains

[raitchison]

Solution: Make SUVs subject to the same CAFE standards as all other passneger vehicles.

[Maxis24]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by raitchison:
Solution: Make SUVs subject to the same CAFE standards as all other passneger vehicles.<hr></blockquote>

Make SUVs classified as passenger vehicles and not trucks. [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

SUV trucks.. [img]graemlins/thumbdown.gif[/img]
SUV passenger vehicle.. [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

[focalxplosion]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by focalBlur:
solutions:
1)Diesel power

2)Hybrid drive trains<hr></blockquote>

Good thoughts, unfortunately Diesel in the states will likely never be clean enough for our standards and hybrids are only a temporary solution. For Diesel to work two things must happen first; some one must find a way to clean the emissions of particulate matter, and fuel here in the states must be better refined. Hybrids can achieve wonderful economy, but at what repercussions. The battery technology used in them is difficult and expensive to recycle.

It can be done though; I worked on a Hybrid electric Suburban at school that toped out at 28 MPG compared to 16 stock. But our suburban incorporated a 125 BHP electric motor and 28 deep cycle lead acid batteries, and weighed in at more than 1000 lb’s over stock. The best solution I see is to put those fat pigs on Jenny Craig and slim them up. Just a few thoughts from someone in the trenches of the SUV fuel economy struggles. Check out www.futuretruck.org.

Forgot to mention that Ford Just ended it's hybrid Explorer program.

[ 04-17-2002: Message edited by: focalxplosion ]</p>