Originally published November 15 2005
Ford introduces hybrid SUV at Sierra Club Expo
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the Sierra Club's National Environmental Convention and Expo, Ford gave the public a look at its 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, with a fuel economy 50 percent better in the city than the gasoline-only version.
More than 800 were pre-sold online, and Ford plans to make 2,000 for this shortened model year and 4,000 during the next model year.
He said the company is paying more attention to the environmental impact of its vehicles by establishing a new division called the sustainable mobility group, charged with increasing the number of alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles.
Ford is attempting to increase demand for its Mercury Mariner and Escape hybrid through print, broadcast and online advertising, including joint promotions with the Sierra Club.
Unlike previous models, the new Civic Hybrid can be powered solely by the batteries at low speeds, according to Gunnar Lindstrom, senior manager of alternative-fuel vehicle sales and marketing at American Honda Motor.
He said the company updated its Integrated Motor Assist technology, which coordinates the power from the gasoline engine and electric motor, resulting in an EPA rating of 50 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway for the $21,000 sedan.
Rising gas prices are likely to increase demand for hybrids, according to Michael Chung, an analyst with automotive tracking firm Edmunds.
Chung said hybrids constituted 1 percent of all vehicle sales in 2004, a figure that will likely double within the next two to three years.
SUV sales are already waning, according to Chung, and automakers are responding by developing more hybrid SUVs.
The Sierra Club invited Ford, Honda and Toyota (maker of the Prius and Highlander hybrids) to attend its meeting because the group wants to make hybrid vehicles more successful, according to Becker.
He said the club did not invite the manufacturers of trucks that were "hybrids in name only" (namely GM's Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra) because they do not offer substantially increased fuel efficiency.
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