Ford Talks Li-Ion and Rare Earths

[xcel]

Reduction in rare-earths save $’s and Li-Ion saves $’s at the pump.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 13, 2012

2013 Ford C-MAX -- $25,995 to start (incl D&H) and a 47/47/47 mpgUS city/highway/combined triple. There is already $1,000 on the hood even before it goes on sale?

While Ford is pushing the C-MAX as a Prius v competitor, it is not quite large enough for that comparison but is larger than the base Prius hatch. At 47 mpgUS across the board, it has nearly matched the ubiquitous fuel economy leader too!

The EPA certification is certainly significant and probably has more to do with the top EV/Glide speed of up to 62 mph than anything else. And it is yet another one of the recent "super cars" we cannot wait to take for a drive someday.

Like the Fusion and Lincoln MKZh Hybrids, the C-MAX Hybrid is equipped with the beautiful, upgraded and mostly functional SmartGauge with EcoGuide. Another new feature I have not read about is ECO Cruise which is surely a DWL CC similar to that found in the current Honda Civic Lineup under their particular ECO mode.

Rare Earths reduction

Ford's third-generation hybrid system using Li-Ion batteries follows up on the R&D of the first and second generation in the Ford Escape and Fusion Hybrid that were equipped with NiMH batteries. The use of Li-Ion and less rare earths in the motors that drive the new lineup could reduce the company's use of the very expensive rare earth metals by up to 500,000 pounds a year depending on how may C-MAX and Fusion Hybrids are sold.

According to Ford, by reducing the composition of rare earth metals in the switch from NiMH to Li-Ion and in the motors themselves reduces costs by 30 percent while allowing improved fuel economy.

Among the rare earth metals used in NiMH batteries are neodymium, cerium, lanthanum and praseodymium, none of which are used in the new Li-Ion packs in either the C-MAX or Fusion HEVs. Additionally, Ford has reduced its use of dysprosium by approximately 50 percent in magnets employed in the hybrid system's motors. Dysprosium is the most expensive rare earth metal used and the reduction is the result of a new diffusion process that is used in the magnet manufacturing process.

If the savings actually makes it to the consumer in the near future, Ford has really got something!

[waltermlee]

On Fuelly.com there are eleven(11) Ford C-max from the United Kingdom reporting their fuel efficiency. The Ford C-max with a conventional gas enegine has an overall average of 24-39 mpg with a mean average appearing to be around 33 mpg. On the otherhand, the conventional diesel version of the Ford C-max fuel efficiency has an overall average between 33-55 mpg with a mean average that looks to be around 47 mpg. Fyi - the UK uses imperial gallons but I was viewing and reporting these metrics using U.S. gallons.

[herm]

In other words, lithium-ion cells are finally cheaper than nimh

[xcel]

Hi Herm:

You could not tell it by the prices???

Wayne

[herm]

I think its a very recent thing.

[rfruth]

I keep hearing about the $ 1000.00 off the C-Max price but can't find out anything - is it some kind of a Ford incentive or a tax credit ?

[xcel]

Hi Rfruth:

It was on one of the Ford C-MAX preorder pages. It may be taken down by now however?

Wayne

[rfruth]

I'm going to national Plug In Day later this month, hope to learn something there

http://events.pluginday.org/p/salsa/..._event_KEY=613

[xcel]

Hi Rfruth:

The C-MAX hybrid's $1,000 rebate is one the Ford C-MAX Hybrid order page.

At $24,995, I would order one over a Prius package 2 as it offers more room, more performance and close to the same FE. That last addition is still suspect as those attending the C-MAX launch, one guy received something like 61 mpg which is pathetic!

Versus the v, the C-MAX is smaller and we already know the v is almost as as capable as the Prius hatch when it comes to Fuel Economy.

Wayne