The Jay Leno Show returns to the air September 14 with a new Green Car Challenge segment, featuring Ford’s battery electric Focus, specially built for the show’s first season. The car will be driven by celebrity guests competing in Jay’s Green Car Challenge for best track times around a track built next to the NBC studio.
Ford’s partnership with the show aims to highlight electric vehicle features that Ford plans to incorporate into cars for 2011. Ford plan to put four electric vehicles on the road by 2012.
The Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV) built for the show has a split battery pack, with one battery in the cargo area and one underneath the car where the fuel tank would normally be located. The car was built to race and is equipped with a roll bar and five-point harness for the driver.
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise are among the celebrities that are interested in taking part in Jay’s Green Car Challenge, according to several news outlets.
Over the last couple of years, Jay, an avid auto enthusiast, has worked to green the giant garage that houses his impressive car collection. The garage is 17,000 square feet. He and his car mechanic team have delved into making an ultrasonic cleaning system for parts that uses biodegradable soap and ultrasound, eliminating use of harmful chemical solvents. Jay’s garage has also been equipped with a wind turbine and several others energy-efficient measures.
