Ford offers bold vision for future of mobility

Company launches its MyEnergi Lifestyle pilot program in China

Ford's bold vision for the future of personal mobility is on display at CES Asia in Shanghai, with Ford Smart Mobility experiments, the latest in-car connectivity technologies and the introduction of MyEnergi Lifestyle to China demonstrating Ford's commitment to leveraging technologies to reshape how the world moves.

The Ford stand at CES Asia features displays of two Ford Smart Mobility experiments, the latest generation of its in-car connectivity solution, SYNC 3, the recently launched Ford Focus, a MyEnergi Lifestyle showcase, the new Ford GT supercar and much more.

Tailored for China

The MyEnergi Lifestyle pilot program, led by Ford in close partnership with Haier U+, Trina Solar and Delta Electronics, will begin with families in Beijing and Shanghai.

Ford and the MyEnergi Lifestyle collaborators will outfit families with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, at-home solar power systems and efficient appliances in order to demonstrate the real world impact of energy saving products.

The pilot program will track participants' energy use and carbon output in order to highlight the environmental and economic advantages of vehicle electrification, solar energy generation and utilizing efficient appliances in the home.

"The MyEnergi Lifestyle pilot program in China exemplifies Ford's approach to creating a more sustainable transportation ecosystem," said John Lawler, chairman and chief executive officer of Ford Motor China.

"By leveraging our global resources and innovating with local partners, we're able to deliver results that have a greater impact than the sum of all of the parts."

Ford worked with researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology to create a computer model that calculates annual consumption before and after instituting the MyEnergi Lifestyle model, as they did for a similar MyEnergi Lifestyle project in the United States.

For the China project, the model predicts cumulative savings of 63 percent in energy costs - a 40 percent and 69 percent drop in electric and gasoline bills, respectively, for a total of approximately 9,400 yuan ($1,509) in annual savings. This amounts to a 45 percent decrease in carbon dioxide output, for a total reduction of 6,828 kg of CO2 emissions a year.

"When Ford brought the MyEnergi Lifestyle to China, we looked at some of the more common differences between American and Chinese families, like their housing and commuting patterns," said Mike Tinskey, global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure at Ford Motor Company.

"From there, we built on what we learned from the MyEnergi Lifestyle in the US and tailored it for China, doing our best to understand how the average Chinese family lives, drives, works and plays, and the associated energy needs."

Ford has partnered with leaders in the appliance, solar power and power management industries to bring the latest in energy-efficient products to participants in the pilot program.

Leading technologies in the MyEnergi Lifestyle program include Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrids; Delta electric vehicle charging stations; Trina Solar photovoltaic power generation systems; and Haier U+ high efficiency smart appliances.

Tackling air pollution

In addition to energy and cost savings, a holistic approach of employing an everyday electric vehicle combined with solar power and efficient appliances can have a significant impact on reducing emissions that lead to pollution - which can significantly improve air quality.

The MyEnergi Lifestyle model is also predicted to bring the following benefits:

? Decreased output of harmful PM2.5 particulate matter by 32 percent;

? Decreased output of PM10 particulate matter by 35 percent;

? Reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 38 percent;

? Reduction of sulfur oxide emissions by 38 percent;

Where coal-fired power stations play a major part in electricity production - as they do in many economies - projects like MyEnergi Lifestyle showcase how the electrification of vehicles goes hand in hand with the implementation of cleaner and renewable energy sources.

"The advantages to the MyEnergi Lifestyle approach are twofold," said Tinskey. "It saves people money on utilities, and it's working to build a smarter, cleaner and more efficient energy infrastructure for the future."

Cross-sector solutions

The companies involved in the MyEnergi Lifestyle - Ford, Haier U+, Trina Solar, and Delta Electronic - share the common vision of a more sustainable future for China.

The cross-sector partnership represents an effort to connect each company's most cutting-edge environmentally friendly technologies to build holistic, energy-saving solutions for the modern Chinese family.

Today's sustainable technologies are more affordable and attainable than ever before, and the MyEnergi Lifestyle project is an ideal way to showcase the power of using these technologies together in the home.

Since its establishment in 1984, Haier Group has expanded its business from the production of refrigerators to areas including household appliances, communication services, IT digital products, home furnishings, logistics, finance, real estate and bio-pharmaceutical products, becoming a world leader in a wide variety of life solutions.

Haier U+ was launched earlier this year and focuses on energy-efficient products for a smarter, more sustainable lifestyle.

"There's no single solution for sustainable energy consumption, and that's why it's important to be a part of cross-sector collaborations like MyEnergi Lifestyle with companies like Ford," said Wang Zheng, chief operating officer of Haier U+.

"As owning more than one car has become more of a norm for Chinese families, the partnership between U+ smart life and the transportation sector will bring greener, more convenient lives for Chinese families."

Trina Solar Limited is a global leader in photovoltaic modules, solutions and services. Founded in 1997 as a photovoltaic system integrator, Trina Solar today drives smart energy together with installers, distributors, utilities and developers worldwide.

"Electric vehicles have to draw their power from somewhere, and coal-based sources pose problems when trying to create more sustainable modes of transportation," said Niu Yong, general manager of the module business unit of Trina Solar.

"We're excited to work with Ford to raise awareness of solar power at home, and China, which has enormous potential when it comes to solar energy, is a great fit for a project like this."

Founded in 1971, Delta is a global leader in power and thermal management solutions.

As an energy-saving solutions provider with core competencies in power electronics and in innovative research and development, Delta's businesses encompass power electronics, energy management and smart green life options.

"We're pleased to be part of this network of partners seeking innovative, cleaner and efficient energy solutions," said Zhang Yuming, general manager of electric transportation and cloud power management for Delta.

"Together we may contribute to a smarter and greener lifestyle that benefits the world."

The MyEnergi Lifestyle project in China follows the successful implementation of similar pilot programs in the US that launched in 2013.

Research has shown that as one of the most significant electrified products most consumers will ever purchase, an electric vehicle can serve as a catalyst for greater adoption of efficient products that reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.

In the US, MyEnergi Lifestyle pilot projects in California and Colorado each resulted in energy cost savings of about 60 percent and carbon dioxide emission reductions of more than 55 percent.

If every home in the United States were to implement such energy-saving technologies, it would be the equivalent of taking all the homes in California, New York and Texas - 32 million homes - off the power grid.

Ford announced at CES Asia three new partners to bring popular smartphone apps to the Ford AppLink platform: Ximalaya, Radio.cn and NetEase Music.

The company highlighted two mobility experiments to help customers with parking issues:Remote Repositioning and Parking Spotter.

In addition, Ford announced at CES Asia that it will open GoDrive to the public, a London-based car-sharing mobility experiment that will invite 2,000 members of the public to enjoy flexible, practical and affordable access to a fleet of 50 cars at 20 convenient locations throughout London.

gongzhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn