Ford Begins Production of Its Next Generation Hybrid Transmission in US

[xcel]

2013 C-MAX_HEV, C-MAX_PHEV,_FFH, FF_PHEV and_MKZh being readied with a key component.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug. 2, 2012

A sneak peek at the actual transmission partly responsible for the 47/44 mpgUS city/highway rating of the all-new 2013 Fusion Hybrid.

Ford’s next generation Hybrid transmission destined for the entire Ford and Lincoln hybrid lineup is not only a scientific and technological wonder but promises to be a job creation engine at the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling, Michigan.

Ford stated that this single piece of hybrid hardware required a $220 million investment to transform Van Dyke Transmission into an operation capable of producing the all-new hybrid transmission.

The new assembly line and plant upgrades are responsible for an additional 225 new jobs of the 12,000 U.S. hourly jobs the company expects to add by 2015. The plant recently added 130 jobs as part of the hybrid transmission launch, with the remaining workers scheduled to start work by the end of the month. Van Dyke now has a total of 1,350 workers.

Ford’s Hybrid transmission details

The hybrid transmission, code named HF35, incorporates two electric motors just as its predecessor from the Japanese Corporation Aisin did. Although the technical details on how Ford managed to keep MG1 RPMs down while keeping the ICE at 0 RPM at up to 62 mph have yet to be released, HF35 is the first hybrid transmission to be designed and built entirely within the Ford family. By bringing the development work in-house, Ford reduced development costs 20 percent.

Ford engineered the HF35 and upgraded the controls with a goal of creating the industry’s highest-performing, smoothest-operating hybrid transmission. Among this hybrid transmission’s innovations:

• Electric motors capable of operating at higher electric speeds <-- A key to the conundrum?
• A hyper-efficient new cooling system that enables higher speeds in electric drive. <-- A second key enabler.
• Optimized gear ratios enabling improvement in fuel economy
• More precise controls to deliver higher levels of refinement as the powertrain transitions between engine and electric drive.
• Reduced weight to help increase fuel economy.

Ford’s FFH is already one of the smoothest and most fuel efficient all-around hybrid transmissions on the road today. What the HF35 mated to the Atkinsonized 2.0L will provide beyond its amazing 47/44 mpgUS city/highway rating is one of those questions we cannot wait to find out

[ALS]

It's fun to hear people say the hybrids fuel economy advantage is slipping due to the new highly efficient engines coming on line. Here we have Ford getting innovative to further increase the fuel mileage of it larger hybrids due to jumps in fuel efficiency across the board. All these jumps in fuel economy have forced the manufactures with the standard gasoline, diesel or hybrid or BEV to improve on what they have in range and mileage.

Competition breads excellence.

[cwerdna]

Originally Posted by ALS

It's fun to hear people say the hybrids fuel economy advantage is slipping due to the new highly efficient engines coming on line. Here we have Ford getting innovative to further increase the fuel mileage of it larger hybrids due to jumps in fuel efficiency across the board. All these jumps in fuel economy have forced the manufactures with the standard gasoline, diesel or hybrid or BEV to improve on what they have in range and mileage.

Competition breads excellence.

I don't know that it's so "fun". What irks me the most is TV commercials that tout only the highest EPA number (highway on non-hybrids) and barely mention or don't mention highway. Then, a bunch of anti-hybrid (or just ignorant) folks will use those numbers as "ammo" about why not to buy a hybrid.

It should be illegal to mention only the highest number. It should be a choice of combined mileage only or all 3 (city, highway and combined) in equal prominence.

The so-called "40 mpg" non-hybrids are ~30 mpg combined vs. 50 mpg combined of the Prius and Prius c.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

It should be illegal to mention only the highest number.

Maybe it should be illegal to compare apples and oranges*. Or cherry-pick. That's what I hear a lot of people doing. People are so dumb. Good thing I usually ignore them.


* Unless,of course,we are talking about which fruit we prefer. Oranges for me.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by EdwinTheMagnificent

Maybe it should be illegal to compare apples and oranges*. Or cherry-pick. That's what I hear a lot of people doing. People are so dumb. Good thing I usually ignore them.


* Unless,of course,we are talking about which fruit we prefer. Oranges for me.

http://xkcd.com/388/

Randall Monroe's preference is clear.

I'd take a good Honey Crisp over an orange any day. I haven't had fermented orange juice so I can't judge my alcoholic preference. But, I'd probably say I like pears best.

Back on topic, although I'm not a Merkin and any car in Maine is an import, right now I'd plump for a CMax over a Prius just because of Toyota's "Miss'ed" opportunity and the market's need to ensure Toyota start building Priuses in the USA.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

What was the topic again ? Oh, yeah.

By bringing the development work in-house, Ford reduced development costs 20 percent.

Does anyone know who designed the current(outgoing) trans in the FFH ?
I seem to recall that Ford had licenced some Toyota hybrid technology.

[phoebeisis]

Wow
Edwin-Wouldn't that be something if Toyota had to license technology -from FORD!!

Toyota wouldn't of course- but even the "fact" that it might make sense is something for Ford to be proud of.
GM- just where/when did GM go wrong-relative to Ford?
Did they have more full wage UAW workers-back 80's-90's-early 2000's-
Seems like I have some vague memory that the "last Ford" did something important??
something that put Ford on their currect course?

Ford looks pretty good
GM is doing well- but Ford looks a "little better" 3.5 Twin turbo-hybrids-great in house TD now
Charlie

[rfruth]

Jatco makes the current ecvts for Ford - Jatco is partially owned by Toyota IIRC

http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/PRODUCTS/index.html