Ford Motor Company declared the Ford C-MAX star Energi conception, a first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the simplest of what a plug-in hybrid offers - while not looking on the electrical grid for fuel.Instead of powering its battery from associate outlet, Ford C-MAX star Energi conception harnesses the ability of the sun by employing a special concentrator that acts sort of a light microscope, guiding intense rays to star panels on the vehicle roof.
The result's an idea vehicle that takes a day's value of daylight to deliver a similar performance because the typical C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which attracts its power from the electrical grid. Ford C-MAX Energi gets a combined best miles per gallon equivalent in its category, with EPA-estimated 108 MPGe town and ninety two MPGe main road, for a combined one hundred MPGe. By exploitation renewable power, Ford C-MAX star Energi conception is calculable to scale back the annual gas emissions a typical owner would manufacture by four metric tons.
"Ford C-MAX star Energi conception shines a brand new lightweight on electrical transportation and renewable energy," aforementioned electro-acoustic transducer Tinskey, Ford international director of car electrification and infrastructure. "As associate innovation leader, we wish to any the general public dialog concerning the art of the doable in moving the globe toward a cleaner future."
Ford C-MAX star Energi conception, which is able to be shown at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, could be a cooperative project of Ford, San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower firm. and Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology.
Strong electrified vehicle sales
The C-MAX star Energi conception debuts as Ford caps a record year of electrified vehicle sales.
Ford expects to sell eighty five,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles for 2013 - the primary full year its six new electrified vehicles were accessible in dealer showrooms.
C-MAX Energi is Ford's plug-in sales leader, with sales of quite half-dozen,300 through Gregorian calendar month. Ford sold-out a lot of plug-in vehicles in Gregorian calendar month and Gregorian calendar month than each Toyota and Tesla, and it outsold Toyota through the primary eleven months of 2013. Plug-in hybrids still grow in sales as a lot of customers discover the advantages of exploitation electricity to increase their practice range.
C-MAX Hybrid over the last year has been a key driver in serving to Ford sell a lot of hybrids than the other car maker within the u. s., second solely to Toyota. C-MAX Hybrid continues to bring new customers to the Ford complete, with a conquest rate of sixty four % and drawing nearly half its sales from import brands. Conquest rates square measure even higher in key hybrid growth markets like urban center, l. a. and Washington, D.C.
Breakthrough clean technology
SunPower, that has been Ford's star technology partner since 2011, is providing high-efficiency star cells for the roof of Ford C-MAX star Energi conception. due to the extended time it takes to soak up enough energy to completely charge the vehicle, Ford turned to Georgia Institute of Technology for how to amplify the daylight so as to create a solar-powered hybrid possible for daily use.
Researchers developed associate off-vehicle star concentrator that uses a special lens to direct daylight to the star cells whereas boosting the impact of the daylight by an element of eight. Augustin Jean Fresnel could be a compact lens originally developed to be used in lighthouses. Similar in conception to a light microscope, the patent-pending system tracks the sun because it moves from east to west, drawing enough power from the sun through the concentrator on a daily basis to equal a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).
With a full charge, Ford C-MAX star Energi conception is calculable to possess a similar total vary as a standard C-MAX Energi of up to 620 miles, as well as up to twenty one electric-only miles. to boot, the vehicle still contains a charge port, and may be charged by connecting to a charging station via wire and plug in order that drivers retain the choice to power up via the grid, if desired.
After Ford C-MAX star Energi conception is shown at CES, Ford and Georgia technical school can begin testing the vehicle in various real-world eventualities. the end result of these tests can facilitate to work out if the conception is possible as a production automobile.
Off-the-grid automobile
By sound renewable solar power with a top side electrical device system, C-MAX star Energi conception isn't enthusiastic about the standard electrical grid for its battery power. Internal Ford information recommend the sun may power up to seventy five % of all journeys created by a mean driver during a star hybrid vehicle. this might be particularly vital in places wherever the electrical grid is underdeveloped, unreliable or dear to use.
The vehicle conjointly reinforces MyEnergi mode, an idea discovered by Ford and a number of other partners at 2013 CES. MyEnergi mode uses maths, science and pc modeling to assist householders perceive however they'll benefit of energy-efficient home appliances, solar energy systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles to considerably scale back monthly expenses whereas conjointly reducing their overall carbon footprint.
The positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX star Energi might be important. it might scale back yearly greenhouse emission and alternative gas emissions from the common U.S. automobile owner by the maximum amount as four metric tons - the equivalent of what a U.S. house produces in four months.
If all light vehicles within the u. s. were to adopt Ford C-MAX star Energi conception technology, annual gas emissions might be reduced by more or less one billion metric tons.
Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept
source : Ford Press
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