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.
#hybrid
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.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Frito-Lay, Transportation and the Environment
Addressing greenhouse gas reduction in the snack food supply chain
-
Internal Combustion Engines’ Continued Domination (?)
According to a new research study by Deutsche Bank, “PCOT III: Revisiting the Outlook for Powertrain Technology” (that’s “Pricing the Car of Tomorrow”), to twist a phrase from Mark Twain, it seems that the reports of the internal combustion engine’s eminent death are greatly exaggerated.
-
On Traffic Jams, Vehicle Size, Building EVs and more
From building electric vehicles—and training to do so—to considering traffic and its implication on drivers and vehicle size—there are plenty of considerations for people and their utilization of technology in the industry.