Ford plans diesel Focus for US market

22 July 2002: In a major change in car development policy in the US, the Ford Motor Company is seriously studying plans to offer a diesel-powered Ford Focus for sale in North America within the next five years.

Diesel engines in cars in the US are virtually unknown, as a low gasoline price policy makes the economies of diesel power unnecessary.

The perception of car diesels is also of smelly and noisy installations, but Ford hopes to persuade Americans that diesel technology has advanced in recent years to the point that diesel engines compare very favorably with gasoline engines.

“Ford Motor Company strongly supports introducing cleaner, more fuel-efficient diesel vehicles in key markets around the world, including North America, when the time is right,” Nick Scheele, Ford Motor Company chief operating officer, said.

However, any diesel Ford will provide in light vehicles will require extra development to meet the EPA’s stringent Tier II emissions rules. Low sulfur diesel fuel (15 parts per million or less), which will be available in the US in mid-2006, is a critical requirement for these emissions controls.

A NOx absorber-type catalyst and a co-fueling of diesel and urea, an ammonia-based compound, will also have to be developed to reduce NOx emissions. Ford is working to develop an aftertreatment technology that will reduce the issues surrounding particulate matter and health concerns.

Ford currently is testing a diesel Focus using the co-fueling system as a way to achieve Tier II standards. This system uses a very efficient NOx reduction catalyst and a soot-trapping particulate filter. The catalyst uses the ammonia to remove NOx from the exhaust. The chemical urea, in a water solution, is a convenient way to provide ammonia and is automatically sprayed on to the catalyst as needed. The urea – stored on board in a small bottle, like windshield washer fluid – is odorless and non-flammable.

In addition, Ford is testing a small US fleet of Focus TDCi vehicles – the same cars now on sale in Europe – to help build awareness and demonstrate improvements made in diesel technology.

July 2002