Ford’s Flexible Fuel Vehicle Project Helps Safeguard Environment

Ford Motor Company extends an effort to promote the well-being of the environment through its new model, the E85 Hybrid Escape Flexible Fuel Vehicle. This Ford automobile was designed to contribute to the development of the clean vehicle technology implemented in Illinois.

Five Ford E85 Hybrid Escape Flexible Fuel Vehicles were recently transported to the state of Illinois, particularly to the Illinois Corn Growers Association.  The first-of-its-kind, these Ford vehicles were presented to the public at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur.  Additional two vehicles are to be delivered to the largest electric utility in Illinois, the Commonwealth Edison.

The E85 Hybrid Escape is the first vehicle produced by Ford that can actually run on E85 fuel, which is a locally manufactured renewable engine energy source.  True to its very purpose, Ford E85 Hybrid Escape actually generates 25 percent less carbon dioxide discharges than most vehicles. This Ford model is apparently an attempt to attend to the problems regarding environmental changes and power security. 

Introduced last January at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show, the Ford E85 Hybrid Escape was celebrated as the first hybrid automobile in the world that can function through fuel mixture with about 85 percent ethanol. Ethanol is a renewable energy source that can be generated from corns cultivated in America.

A set of Ford E85 Hybrid Escape vehicles will be having a demo parade on the roads of Illinois as it advocates the extensive environmental campaign of this US state. According to Ford’s Regional Government Affairs Manager for the North Central states Mary Culler, the presence of E85 Escape Hybrid is beneficial not just for Ford Motors but also for Illinois.  Ford can gather significant technical information from Ford E85 Hybrid Escape’s daily use in the streets of Illinois, while people in the said state will have the chance to drive vehicles that help preserve the environment.

Moreover, Ford E85 Hybrid Escape helps save the ethanol investment of Illinois.  Illinois Corn Growers Association, Sugar Grove President Steve Ruh said that Ford must be spoken well of because of its efforts that gave Illinois sensible ideas on energy alternatives. In addition to this, Ruh said that The E85 Hybrid Escape was successful in combining the traditional use of ethanol and modern techniques. 

At present, there is still no Flexible Fuel Vehicle declared as partial zero-emissions vehicle.  Moreover, a full hybrid vehicle posts more difficult challenges since automobiles will rely solely on electric power in a full hybrid function. According to Culler, the state of Illinois still has no intention of manufacturing the E85 Hybrid Escape.  However, she confirmed that the outcome of the E85 project would definitely make possible future advancements in technology. 

A hybrid sports-utility vehicle was first launched by Ford Motor Company through the debut of the Ford Escape Hybrid in 2004.  Ford came out last year with more than 200,000 vehicles that can function with ethanol such as Lincoln Town Car and Ford F-150.  In 2008, the company is planning on adding hybrid types of the Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion to its vehicle listings.

E85 Hybrid Escape is just one of the research endeavors of Ford for 2010 onwards.  Ford’s research programs aim to produce solutions to environment-related automotive problems like tail pipe discharges of adaptable-fuel automobiles.