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Ford showcasing world's first plug-in fuel cell car

Ford Motor Co is joining the list of automakers working on a plug-in hybrid -- with a twist. It combines the convenience of plugging in your car with a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell.

Ford was to display yesterday what it calls the world's first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability. Called the Flexible Series Hybrid Edge, it represents the latest offering from automakers hoping to stake a claim to the next generation of highly efficient, alternative automobiles.

Gerhard Schmidt, Ford's vice president of research and advanced engineering, said the vehicle, based on the Ford Edge crossover platform, gives the company "the ultimate in flexibility in researching advanced propulsion technology."

"We could take the fuel cell power system out and replace it with a downsized diesel, gasoline engine or any other powertrain connected to a small electric generator to make electricity like the fuel cell does now," Schmidt said.

Ford was showing the plug-in fuel cell at the Washington Auto Show, where lawmakers and government officials were viewing a number of advanced vehicle technologies.

The show opened for media previews on the eve of US President George W. Bush's State of the Union address, which was expected to include energy proposals of concern to the auto industry.

Several automakers have been working on similar technologies. General Motors Corp will display the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric car recently unfurled in Detroit with a range of 65km on the battery and more than 1,000km with a gas engine.

DaimlerChrysler AG has been pursuing plug-in hybrids and said last Friday it would expand its test fleet in the US to more than 20 Dodge Sprinter vans. The company's chairman, Dieter Zetsche, and Chrysler Group chief executive Tom LaSorda were expected to discuss clean diesel technology at the auto show yesterday.

Volkswagen AG would be showing the Golf GT TSI for the first time in the US. The vehicle's supercharged gasoline engine has 170 horsepower while garnering 5.9 liters per 100km in the city and 4.9 liters on the highway. VW estimates the vehicle gets 1,026km on one tank of fuel.

Meanwhile, Japan's largest heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid cars, a report said yesterday.

The company will test-drive prototype vehicles with the batteries next year and aims to begin full production in 2010, the Nikkei Shimbun said.
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