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Ford, Nokia “Green Zone” System Could Boost Hybrid Efficiency
Ford Motor Co. and Nokia Corp. are developing a system to enhance the efficiency of a hybrid vehicle by switching between electric and piston power depending on the car's location.
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Ford Motor Co. and Nokia Corp. are developing a system to enhance the efficiency of a hybrid vehicle by switching between electric and piston power depending on the car's location.
Dubbed Green Zone, the experimental technology enables drivers to pre-select areas in which their vehicles automatically switch to batteries. Nokia's Here mapping subsidiary provides ultra-accurate location data for the project.
Green Zone could automatically shift a hybrid to electric power in urban areas that prohibit or charge fees for piston-engine vehicles, while driving through quiet residential areas or on relatively low-speed roads where electric power is more effective.
Ford tells reporters the system can pinpoint location within a few centimeters. Green Zone could use such input as traffic volume and elevation changes to calculate whether battery or piston power would be more efficient, according to the company.
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