Yesterday the guys at Popular Mechanics tested out the Ford HySeries Edge: the world’s first working plug-in, fuel-cell, hydrogen-powered car.  This Detroit-made is being featured as a concept at the New York auto show today.

Though wafting zero-emissions exhaust in our face taught us plenty as to the realities of a hydrogen-powered automotive experience, what really made our test special was actually being able to drive a car running on advanced hydrogen fuel-cell technology that can power itself with a 336-volt battery pack.

Since its first appearance in the North American International Auto show last year, the Ford Edge has invoked a great deal of interest among the hybrid enthusiasts! Since then more than 930,000 consumers have visited the Edge web site at www.fordvehicles.com/edge. The launching of Edge had been touted by the company as the single most important event for the year, 2006. Even before it hit the showrooms across the country, this new hybrid car has become a sort of celebrity! So moods are generally upbeat when “Ford joins US ‘green’ car trend”(BBC NEWS).

In its century-old history, the Ford remained the undisputed leader of the auto industry. But the rise of Asian rival brands with the emphasis on use of lesser fuel and cleaner fuel prompted the Ford to take the green isle. The company’s business acumen was duly rewarded as the new Ford Edge won the title of “Urban Truck of the Year” in this year’s Detroit auto show. It symbolized the emergence of a new leader in the crossover segment of automobile industry. And now that Ford finally unveils a test vehicle it becomes the latest to join the league of cars running on the green alternative fuels…reports BBC.

At the backdrop of Bush’s 2007 State of the Union address, where the President is expected to appeal to the nation to cut back its energy expenditure, the unveiling could not have a better timing. For the Ford, this launch is a part of their image repairing procedure—switching from the mould of the manufacturers of gas-guzzling cars to the advocate of greener fuel, safer environment.

The Ford Edge has been designed on the hybrid models that draw its power from the combination of compressed hydrogen and a battery pack that can be plugged into an electric socket. However full commercialization of the model is still a matter of distant future, as the production of hydrogen fuel cells still cost millions of dollars and there are still a few technical hurdles to be overcome.

The volume of traffic the Edge website generated in the months since its appearances in various Auto shows across the nation, sparks hope among the auto experts about the bright future of this new green car in the league. With the launch of Ford Edge, the number of the competitors in the crossover car segment increased by one; now is the time to watch how fierce the competition is going to be.

In an odd twist, the Japanese aim for the big and powerful while American companies shy away from fuel guzzling trucks and SUVs.

Green Car Congress reports that “Eaton has been developing engine air management components and systems for passenger vehicles and stationary engine manufacturers for decades. Its expertise includes Roots-type superchargers and by working with the fuel-cell stack manufacturers, its advanced engineering group has successfully applied the supercharger compressor technology to the fuel-cell environment.”

Read the full story.

Automotive.com says about it: “The first thing you should know about the Escape Hybrid is that, for the most part, it drives just like a regular Escape. It demands little, if any, additional effort or knowledge from the driver. That’s impressive, considering its complexity. In short, the Ford Escape Hybrid is a superb vehicle, smooth, responsive, comfortable and convenient.”

The MSRP price is $26,900 – $28,525 and the MPG is 33 in the city and 29 on the highway.