|
 Jefferson City, MO – Ford Motor Company today announced a research project that can help significantly decrease foreign oil imports -- the first E85 compatible hybrid. The flexible-fuel hybrid Escape was unveiled at today’s Washington Auto Show.
“As a leader in both hybrid vehicles and in vehicles capable of operating on ethanol-based fuels, Ford is the ideal company to bring both technologies together for the first time,” says Anne Stevens, executive vice president, Ford Motor Company, and chief operating officer, The Americas.
Ford currently manufactures two additional hybrid vehicles: the gasoline powered Escape and Mercury Mariner. The company expects to introduce more hybrid vehicles in years to come including a Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Ford Edge and Mercury MKX.
“We are extremely pleased to see Ford take on this endeavor,” said Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the NEVC. “This is a leap forward in the E85 industry and will help the nation even further reduce our dependency on foreign oil as well as reduce smog forming pollutants in the air.”
In model year 2006, Ford offers: the E85 compatible Ford F-150 pick-up truck, which began production in December of 2005, the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and the Lincoln Town Car. The company expects to manufacture 250,000 of E85 compatible vehicles this year.
At this time, there are nearly 600 E85 fueling stations across the United States. For a complete listing along with a listing of all E85 compatible vehicles, visit www.E85Fuel.com.
-30-
|
