Hybrids and Alt Fuels at the Race Track

Alt fuels and hybrid drivetrains are steadily inching their way into the world of motorsports.

Realizing that alcohol is a potent fuel, equal or superior to gasoline in a properly designed engine (with no efficiency loss), the Indy Racing League last year adopted ethanol as its fuel of choice.

Just last month, General Motors brought a handful of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) to Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina for introduction and shake-down runs by Team Chevy drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Hydrogen powered race cars in the future? Who knows?

And now, Ford Motor Company has the distinguished honor of pacing this Sunday's Ford 400 with the first ever hybrid pace car at a NASCAR event. A 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, decked out in a special bright camouflage paint scheme, will lead the field on the warm-up laps and bring them to the green flag.

After public unveiling at the Los Angeles International Auto Show later this month, the Fusion Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2009 with some pretty impressive credentials. According to a Ford press release, The Ford Fusion Hybrid can operate in electric mode at speeds up to 47 mph with a range of more than 700 miles of city driving on a single tank of gas. Gil Portalatin, Ford Hybrid Applications Manager says, “Because our hybrid can run at a much higher speed in electric mode, you can do so much more in city-driving situations. Under the right conditions, you can drive in your neighborhood or mall parking lots without using a drop of gasoline.”

Wow! This sounds like a game changer to us. We've test driven lots of hybrids, but never one that could go so far or so fast on electric power alone. Can't wait to get our hands on one.

photo © Ford Motor Company