Ethanol-Powered Ford Hybrid to Climb Capitol Hill
Legislators to Participate – but Where to Re-Fuel?
Washington, D.C., June 11, 2007 – On Wednesday of this week, Ford Motor Company will hand over several Ford Escape Hybrid E85s - the worlds first full-electric hybrid vehicles capable of operating on an 85 percent ethanol blend - to several D.C.-area organizations for real-world testing.
Ford has produced 20 demonstration Escape Hybrid E85s for placement in six different states as part of its testing process and continuing commitment to sustainability.
Sue Cischke, Ford’s senior vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering will be present Wednesday to hand off the new hybrid vehicles, along with Senators Kit Bond and Carl Levin, (R-MO and D-MI, respectively).
Unveiled at the Washington Auto Show earlier this year, the innovative Escape Hybrid E85 produces about 25 percent less carbon dioxide than its gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid sibling.
One of the keys to making E85 a widely available fueling option for drivers is the need to increase its availability through expanded infrastructure. Today, just 1,200 E85 pumps are in operation at the nations 170,000 gas stations, less than one percent of the total. The closest to Capitol Hill is in Northern Virginia.
Ford remains committed to partnering with the U.S. ethanol industry and urging Congress to ensure this market continues to grow. Ford estimates that if just 5 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet were powered by hybrids operating on E85 ethanol, oil imports could be reduced by about 140 million barrels a year. At present, the U.S. crude oil imports total over 10 millions barrels per day.
Ford is also supporting other clean emissions initiatives, including New York City’s goal of replacing its entire yellow taxi fleet with hybrid vehicles within five years. The company has also pledged to make half of its annual vehicle production capable of running on flexible fuels like ethanol by 2012.
SOURCE: Market Watch; Ford Motor Company
Write a comment
Posts: 1
Reply #1 on : Mon June 18, 2007, 15:38:57