Ford has announced their intention to apply electric power steering systems to almost all of their vehicles by 2012. Electric power steering systems have numerous advantages over traditional hydraulic boost systems. The older style hydraulic pump systems are driven directly off the engine and run all the time even when not needed. EPS, on the other hand, uses an electric motor tied to the steering gear and provides only as much boost as needed and only when needed. Because the EPS is not driven by the engine, it provides greater packaging flexibility in the engine compartment. The first Ford vehicles equipped with EPS are 2008 Escape and Mariner twins. EPS is also very handy on hybrid vehicles were the engine gets shut off, something that would disable a hydraulic assist system. For 2009, the updated Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ will also get EPS. The new 2009 models will also offer hybrid variants of the Fusion and Milan. Electric power steering provides a reduction in CO₂ emissions of about 3.5 percent thanks to the reduced weight and parasitic losses.

[Source: Ford]