One of the most exciting parts of the electric car world is that there is so much research and design being done, which means new concepts can come out all the time. A great example of this is the new Ford Edge that Ford revealed in January of this year.

Billed as “the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability” (definitely a mouthful as far as name’s go) this car is built with the future in mind. Using Ford’s flexible powertrain technology, the car can make use of new power sources as they are developed without requiring a complete redesign of the automobile.

The HySeries drive in the Edge is able to operate with a fuel cell or gasoline/diesel engine. Using a hydrogen power cell, the Edge delivers an equivalent of 41 miles per gallon. If the driver is commuting less than 50 miles per day, the average jumps to 80 miles per gallon, which shows the advantage of the plug-in charging system. Similar in concept to the Chevy Volt, the Ford Edge uses lithium ion batteries which power the first 25 miles driven each day on stored electricity alone. The fuel cell on the Ford Edge kicks in after the first 25 miles, providing up to 200 additional miles in range without any emissions. The HySeries drive can reach maximum speeds of 85 miles per hour.

Unfortunately, at the current time the Ford Edge remains a concept car of sorts, as the cost of hydrogen fuel cells is prohibitive for general commercial release. However, proof of concept is a solid start in what could be a fascinating new direction for electric car evolution.