Ford Motor Company’s Research and Innovation Team have worked recently on combining cloud computing with hybrid vehicle technology. The result of this project is the Ford Evos Concept, a plug-in hybrid concept on display at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. This unique vehicle goes beyond the usual features of a hybrid vehicle with connectivity features that would alter the driving experience. Design leader Paul Mascarenas and his colleagues focused on personal cloud computing that would save details of a driver’s commute for future access. Collected information allows the Ford Evos Concept to customize each commute based on personal behavior and external factors.

The Ford Evos Concept uses a plug-in hybrid drive system with lithium-ion battery already tested in the Ford C-MAX Energi. This technology allows the four-door, four-seat concept to travel up to 500 miles per trip by combining engine and motor power. Ford has designed the Evos Concept to travel on all-electric power at low speeds before the gas engine is initiated. The Evos Concept also features a diminutive frame with a frame length of 177 inches and a wheel base of 108 inches. These details will no doubt get some attention but the Evos Concept will be best remembered for Ford’s cloud computing research.

The Research and Innovation Team were concerned with personalization, driving enhancement, driver well-being and optimization when developing the Evos Concept. Drivers would be connected wirelessly to Ford’s cloud network throughout the world. This cloud stores information about a driver’s behavior on the road including average speed, fuel consumption and driving distance. Additional information stored in the cloud includes health metrics for the driver, traffic data on roadways frequently used by the driver and weather patterns in the region. The Evos Concept pulls appropriate information from the cloud to improve the driver’s commuting experience.

Ford’s cloud-based hybrid drive system would eliminate problems common to drivers around the world. The Evos Concept could steer drivers clear of congested roadways by evaluating alternate routes in real time. This innovative vehicle responds to ice storms, blizzards and thunderstorms by recommending safe acceleration patterns and calculating braking distances. Representatives from Ford also note that the Evos Concept would respond quickly to low-emissions zones established in European countries. The creation of a green vehicle with cloud-computing capabilities could put Ford ahead of the competition in the 21st century.

Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company have worked together since 2009 to develop fuel-efficient vehicles. This partnership produced the Transit Connect Electric in little more than a year, showing how quickly innovation can occur through collaboration. Another aspect of the Azure-Ford relationship is the Balance Hybrid Electric, a heavy-duty drive system that increases fuel economy by 40% while cutting emissions by 30%. The next phase in this collaboration announced recently is Azure’s commitment to provide plug-in drive systems for the Ford F-550 Super Duty truck. The hybrid version of the Ford F-550 could be available as early as spring 2013.

Engineers with Azure Dynamics will work with Ford officials to install and service Ford F-550 hybrids. Ford dealerships offering Super Duty trucks with Azure drive systems will be trained to handle basic maintenance as well as repairs. The Ford F-550 represents the first of many trucks that could feature hybrid drives as Ford left open the possibility of an Azure makeover for the entire F-Series. This conversion would only feature about a third of Azure parts specially designed for the F-550 as most parts are compatible with existing Ford components.

The F-Series Super Duty line by Ford represents a significant opportunity for Azure Dynamics. Ford notes that this line of pickup trucks represents more than half of all trucks sold in North America. Construction companies and government fleets purchase more than 100,000 F-Series units per year due to vehicle quality. Ford’s reputation has also been boosted as the F-Series expanded through cab and bed customization. The success of the Ford F-550 hybrid could mean an expansion of Azure’s role in Ford vehicle design and a growing reputation for innovative drive systems.

The aforementioned Balance Hybrid Electric shows the promise of hybrid trucks in North America. Representatives from Ford have noted that this drive system represents 60% of the market share for hybrid commercial trucks in the United States and Canada. This market share comes almost entirely from corporate fleets like FedEx Express and AT&T but is promising nonetheless. The partnership between Azure and Ford is positive though the decision to focus on trucks should not be a final step. The auto industry must commit to rethinking vehicle weight and design along with fuel economy to ensure progress in sustainable transportation.

New York City made news earlier this summer by announcing the Nissan NV200 as the City’s Taxi of Tomorrow. This vehicle could be produced as an all-electric vehicle in the near future, joining six Nissan LEAFs in the city’s increasingly low-emissions taxi fleet. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced recently a commitment to purchase 70 electric vehicles for nine city agencies by the end of 2012. The city has also initiated Drive Electric NYC, an online resource for city residents interested in electric vehicles.

The Bloomberg administration noted that the city is ordering 70 EVs including 50 Chevy Volts, 10 Ford Transit Connects and 10 Navistar E-Stars. These EVs join a fleet of 360 electric vehicles used for personnel transportation, parking enforcement and maintenance routes. Agencies receiving EVs from this latest order include the New York Police Department and Fire Department, the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Environmental Protection. The New York Police Department in particular will augment its fleet of scooters and golf carts used for non-emergency situations with Chevy Volt squad cars.

The city’s adoption of EVs is accompanied by a broader educational effort funded largely by state and federal grants. Administrators commissioned a survey from McKinsey & Company to assess the familiarity of residents with electric vehicles. This survey found that only 30% of New York residents claimed familiarity with the benefits of electric vehicles. McKinsey & Company did provide a silver lining as 21% of respondents were interested in EVs when learning basic facts about these vehicles. Drive Electric NYC was developed to increase awareness of electric vehicles among city residents. This website is a clearinghouse of information on the economic and environmental benefits of EVs. Visitors to Drive Electric NYC also discover a comprehensive map of public EV chargers and cost calculators for green vehicles.

Mayor Bloomberg and city officials have leveraged relationships with local, regional and national players in the EV market to turn New York into a haven for green vehicles. The city has committed to the Northeast Regional Electric Vehicle Partnership with Boston and Philadelphia to create a regional EV corridor. Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Power Authority offset costs for Drive Electric NYC, EV adoption and the installation of public chargers. Bloomberg’s announcement at the Department of Sanitation included representatives from the Environmental Defense Fund, Coulomb Technologies and General Motors. New York City is quickly developing into the leading municipality for EV adoption and infrastructure in North America due to these partnerships.

Delivery company FedEx Express has worked since 2000 to reduce fuel costs by adding fuel-efficient vehicles at regional offices. This branch of FedEx Corp. purchased its first Sprinter Van powered by clean diesel 11 years ago. Representatives from the company note that Sprinter Vans have traveled nearly 1.4 billion miles since 2000. FedEx Express announced last week that they are adding 4,000 eco-friendly vehicles in the near future. This goal includes 24 all-electric trucks and vans slated for delivery this summer to four American cities.

FedEx Express is working with offices in New York City, Chicago, Memphis and Los Angeles to incorporate electric trucks into their routes. The majority of all-electric vehicles in this round of purchases are Navistar eStar trucks. This model can carry up to 4,000 pounds in the cargo bay while traveling up to 100 miles per charge. Five Ford Transit Connect Electric vans will be used by regional offices for courier routes and special deliveries. FedEx Express is also acquiring a pair of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) eCell EVs as well as two FCCC retrofitted EVs.

Field offices will work with headquarters to analyze vehicle performance as these delivery vehicles complete their routes. The New York City office will work with General Electric and Columbia University to analyze the impact of all-electric trucks on electrical grids. The Chicago office will receive at least one unit of each vehicle to determine how different models respond to the rigors of daily deliveries. FedEx Express will conduct extensive retrofitting at the Memphis office to convert fleet vehicles to all-electrics especially for the company’s Information Technology Asset Disposal initiative. The Los Angeles regional office already operates four Navistar eStars with plans for 45 hybrid trucks from FCCC and Eaton. This office will provide data to FedEx Express and regional offices to ease the transition to green vehicles.

These electric vehicles only represent a sliver of the company’s efforts to cut down fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The company’s plans to add 4,000 green vehicles in North America will occur largely through hybrid purchases and retrofitting. FedEx Express plans to replace at least 10% of conventional delivery vehicles in the United States with hybrids rather than electric vehicles. Another element of the greening of FedEx Express is adjustment of routes in heavily trafficked areas. Executives selected Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Memphis for electric vehicles due to their high delivery volumes. New routes would use all-electric trucks and vans in urban areas while hybrid vehicles carry packages into suburban and rural areas.

Ford has taken strides over the past few years to cement its role as America’s leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles. The automaker is currently producing 35,000 hybrid vehicles a year including the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. These vehicles will be joined over the next two years by the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi according to Ford representatives. Ford is investing heavily in expanding production of hybrid versions of popular vehicles as well as hybrid-only models like the C-Max.

Executives at Ford have announced that they will invest $135 million at production facilities in Rawsonville, Sterling Heights and Detroit. This investment includes research and development assets at the Van Dyke Transmission Plant. Ford anticipates creating at least 220 manufacturing and engineering jobs related to hybrid manufacturing by 2013. Auto workers in Rawsonville should benefit from Ford’s investment with 170 jobs slated for the local battery plant. The initial goal for Ford is to raise hybrid production to 100,000 vehicles per year starting in 2013.

Details about the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi were nearly absent during last week’s press conference. The C-Max Hybrid is the only vehicle in the Ford fleet that will only be available as a hybrid vehicle. Ford notes that the C-Max Hybrid should receive a higher fuel economy rating than the 41 miles per gallon achieved by the Fusion Hybrid. The C-Max model has been produced for European consumers for the past eight years though plans to bring a standard C-Max to America were abandoned this year. This decision is connected to Ford’s desire to expand hybrid versions of current models rather than starting from scratch.

The C-Max Energi could be Ford’s best chance to compete with General Motors for dominance over the American hybrid market. General Motors has earned plenty of attention for the Chevy Volt, which achieves 379 miles of total range with a $41,000 price tag. Ford was not willing to provide prices or all-electric range for the C-Max Energi but noted that the Energi could feature a combined range of 500 miles.  This ace in the hole along with Ford’s existing hybrids may help the automaker stay competitive while building its sustainability portfolio. The question as always is whether Ford can find the intersection of supply, price and performance to surpass the competition.

Utility firm Xcel Energy is helping communities in Hennepin and Ramsay Counties in Minnesota adopt plug-in vehicles. The utility assisted the City of St. Paul in purchasing a preproduction model of the Ford Transit Connect plug-in in January. This transaction featured a $20,000 subsidy from Xcel Energy to cover part of the $65,000 price tag for St. Paul’s first plug-in vehicle. The inaugural plug-in vehicle currently operates as a shuttle for parks and recreation equipment. Xcel Energy recently announced an extension of this subsidy to surrounding communities including Minneapolis.

Minneapolis, St. Paul and nearby communities are flocking to Xcel Energy to assist in green fleet development. The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County are ordering Azure Dynamics Transit Connect plug-ins using the Xcel Energy subsidy. Officials in St. Paul were so impressed with the vehicle purchased in part by Xcel Energy that they purchased two Connect plug-ins using federal grants totaling $60,000. The public-private partnership in the Twin Cities also requires participants to invest in charging stations. St. Paul has budgeted funds for 23 public charging stations by early 2012 while Ramsey County is adding at least two charging stations this year.

The return on investment for Xcel Energy goes beyond an expansion of demand for electrical power. Each participant in the subsidy program is gathering data about vehicle performance to help Xcel Energy analyze fleet metrics. Analysts with Xcel Energy are interested in the timing and amount of consumption increases due to fleet plug-in vehicle use. The utility is also looking at the impact of Minnesota’s inclement weather as well as daily vehicle use to determine long-term vehicle performance. These statistics should help Xcel and local partners determine how to stave off grid overload while curbing high energy prices.

State projects like Drive Electric Minnesota are attempting to add at least 400,000 plug-in vehicles to Minnesota by 2030. Xcel Energy’s subsidy program might seem meager at present but the utility is confident that additional plug-in vehicles wouldn’t lead to overextended grids. Representatives from Xcel Energy note that adding 400,000 plug-ins over the next 20 years would result in a 5% increase in electrical demand. The proliferation of EV charging stations throughout the Twin Cities should resolve a major concern for early adopters. Private charge stations at two Kwik Trip stores and the Mall of America should be joined by dozens of public stations in 2011. The subsidy model used by Xcel Energy should be replicated by utilities nationwide as a means of promoting slow but steady plug-in adoption by fleet operators.

The Ford F-150 has remained among the best-selling pickup trucks in North America for the past two decades. Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide wants to leverage this popularity while introducing plug-in hybrid drive systems to the public. This engineering firm recently announced that Ford F-150s featuring the company’s plug-in F-Drive will be sold to fleet customers in the United States. Representatives from Quantum Technologies note that the F-Drive is designed to achieve greater fuel economy without sacrificing overall performance.

The F-Drive by Quantum Technologies features a 3.7-liter V6 engine capable of producing 227 kW. This gas engine works with a 100kW electric motor to reduce the Ford F-150’s fuel consumption. Quantum Technologies powers the electric motor using a 22.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Drivers can recharge their battery packs using a 3kW charging unit compatible with 110-volt and 220-volt outlets. Designers at Quantum Technologies developed the F-Drive to maintain cargo space while avoiding significant changes to vehicle weight.

Performance estimates for the plug-in Ford F-150 by Quantum Technologies show the firm’s balancing act between fuel economy and power. The retrofitted vehicle’s maximum speed is 95 miles per hour. Quantum Technologies notes that the Ford F-150 can reach 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in 11 seconds. The towing capacity measures around 2,000 pounds with a maximum payload of 500 pounds plus two passenger seats. Estimated range using only electric power is 35 miles though the hybrid-electric drive system can travel up to 400 miles using gasoline and battery power. Quantum did not release estimates of fuel economy though the introduction of an electric motor and lithium-ion battery should boost the 2011 Ford F-150’s modest rating of 17 miles per gallon city.

Skeptical fleet buyers should understand Quantum’s expertise and partnerships before eschewing the F-Drive. Quantum Technologies works across myriad industries including vehicle testing, fuel system development and defense contracting. This portfolio includes work on solar power storage in California, drive-train development for Fisker Automotive and lightweight airplane design for aerospace clients. The combination of the F-Drive with the Ford F-150 provides Quantum Technologies with a Trojan horse into the world of corporate fleets. Corporate buyers are certainly concerned with the as-yet-unannounced prices for Quantum’s retrofitted Ford F-150 but this vehicle could help cut down fuel costs significantly over the long term.

Postal carrier Posten Norge (Norway Post) has announced an initial order of 20 Transit Connect EVs by Ford. This agreement includes a provision for at least 20 more units if Norway Post has positive experiences with the vehicle. Ford will work with Azure Dynamics to produce the Transit Connect EV starting this summer. Norway Post’s position as the country’s biggest employer and primary postal carrier shows the importance of public investment in green vehicles.

The Ford Transit Connect EV is designed specifically with parcel companies in mind. Ford notes that the Transit Connect EV can handle up to 1,100 pounds of cargo. This cargo capacity would be sufficient for rural and urban deliverers throughout Norway. Ford works with Azure Dynamics to add a 28kWh battery to each vehicle capable of an eight-hour charge using standard European outlets. The Transit Connect EV can stay running long enough for neighborhood routes with a range of 80 miles per charge.

Ford has outlined a production process for the Transit Connect EV that would allow greater marketability in Europe. Each Transit Connect EV starts with body design at a facility in Kocaeli, Turkey before delivery to regional contractors. Ford works with Azure Dynamics to license contractors for drive system and safety component installations that meet EU standards. The Transit Connect EV should be labeled with the Ford Blue Oval and Azure Force Drive logos to appeal to regional consumers. This segmented production process allows Ford to customize units for customers like Norway Post prior to delivery.

Norway Post currently operates 4,750 routes using 10,000 delivery personnel throughout Norway. The parcel giant wants to replace 1,300 fossil-fuel vehicles by 2015 with electric vehicles. 80% of the company’s packages and letters are delivered by train especially in major urban centers where rail depots are available. These vehicles could be joined by street cars, bicycles and other means of transportation to offset carbon emissions. This shift away from traditional vehicles could reduce the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by 30% over the next four years. The approach taken by Norway Post shows electric vehicles can be part of emissions reduction efforts rather than monolithic solutions.

Ford Motor Company has touted innovative vehicles like the C-MAX Hybrid and the Ford Focus Electric at recent car shows. The automaker is taking the next step toward a greener fleet with the opening of the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Governor Rick Snyder, representatives from Ford and local officials were present as the plant officially opened for business on March 17, 2011. This 1.2 million square foot facility is designed to build hybrids, electric vehicles and traditional models without using dedicated production lines. The Ford Focus Electric, the C-MAX Hybrid and the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid are among the vehicles slated for production in Wayne after 2012. Ford notes that the plant uses solar energy, recycled materials and eco-friendly processes to reduce environmental impact.

The Michigan Assembly Plant is the first auto plant in the world to combine traditional and green vehicle production using the same production lines. Ford claims that 80% of automated production equipment can be programmed to handle hybrid, electric and traditional drive systems without resets. Innovations in body stamping, painting and assembly help Ford cut costs while reducing environmental damage. The versatility of robotic production equipment could save $3 million in utility costs by eliminating wasted activity. New techniques in assembling Ford vehicles could cut 8,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions while reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) outputs by 5%.

Another eco-friendly component of the Michigan Assembly Plant is the use of solar energy arrays to power the lines. These arrays installed by Michigan utility firm DKE Energy will only produce about 2.5% of energy needed for production but these panels could be expanded in the future. Representatives from Ford pointed out the use of solar energy to power 10 EV chargers used by on-campus delivery vehicles. Ford estimates that rooftop solar panels could save the company $160,000 per year in electrical costs.

This venture by Ford Motors would not have been possible without collaboration from local, state and federal officials. The Michigan Assembly Plant was part of a $450 million investment by Ford that includes improvements to 11 facilities nationwide. Ford received $160 million in tax credits and funds from the City of Wayne, Wayne County and the state of Michigan. The automaker also received federal loans through the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program supported by the Obama administration. We tend to think about the sustainability and fuel efficiency of vehicles from the perspectives of consumers. Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant shows the importance of eco-friendly production practices to create a truly sustainable auto industry.

Republicans and Democrats were on board with promoting alternative fuels prior to the 2007 market meltdown. Former President George W. Bush and a Republican Congress created the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership in 2002. FreedomCAR was created to develop green vehicle technology and infrastructure to reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels. This program receives support from America’s Big Three automakers as well as leading fuel companies like Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP America. The resurgent Republican Party that took over the House this month has proposed cuts to this program.

House Republicans recently proposed $2.5 trillion in spending cuts including $200 million for the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. This reduction would seriously cripple FreedomCAR given that the program’s 2010 budget was $333 million. Republicans also want to cut the federal government’s vehicle budget by 20%, representing an annual savings of $600 million per year. These cuts are eclipsed by a proposed $7.5 billion cut for the government’s travel budget, which covers reimbursement and travel costs for officials. Supporters of fuel-efficient vehicles in the Republican Party will likely ask states and private interests to support green vehicle endeavors in place of the federal government.

These cuts would counteract the Obama administration’s two-year effort to promote plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. President Obama announced in 2009 that he wanted one million plug-in hybrids on American roads by 2015. The White House received $300 million in the federal stimulus program to invest in fuel-efficient vehicles for the federal fleet. Democrats in Congress also approved $2.4 billion in grants for battery development and $25 billion for subsidized loans on consumers purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles. The progress made toward the 2015 goal would be diminished significantly if Republicans successfully cut FreedomCAR’s budget.

FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is a crucial program for a country in serious need of a more diverse transportation system. This initiative created technology roadmaps going back to 2003 with goals for manufacturers and researchers focused on advanced vehicle technology. Researchers participating in the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership covered a broad spectrum of ideas from vehicle-to-grid communication to hydrogen fuel cells. The 21st Century Truck Partnership within FreedomCAR sought to create sustainable technology for civilian and military trucking. House Republicans are proposing cuts to FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership along with other relatively low-cost programs to avoid touching the military budget, Social Security or Medicare.