Ford backs out on hybrid pledge, plans more alt-fuel vehicles

Two Steps Back

Remember Ford's much-hyped commitment to produce 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010? Er, about that: CEO Bill Ford Jr. backpedaled on the promise Wednesday. While not abandoning hybrids altogether, he said Ford's focus (ha) is shifting (ha ha) to cars that can run on alternative fuels like ethanol, clean diesel, and biodiesel. In an email to employees, the CEO said the quarter-million-hybrids objective was "too narrow to achieve our larger goals of substantially improving fuel economy and CO2 performance." (Of course, ethanol substantially improves neither, so, uh, WTF?) Also on Wednesday, Bill Ford and the CEOs of General Motors and Chrysler pledged to Congress that they would double production of alt-fuel vehicles to 2 million by the end of the decade. In addition, Ford announced plans to partner with VeraSun Energy to open about 50 new ethanol fueling stations in the Midwest.

straight to the source: The Detroit News, Bryce G. Hoffman and Deb Price, 29 Jun 2006

straight to the source: The New York Times, Micheline Maynard and Jeremy W. Peters, 29 Jun 2006

straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, 29 Jun 2006

straight to the source: The Seattle Times, Associated Press, Ken Thomas, 29 Jun 2006

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	Read more about: business \| news \| placemaking \| renewable energy \| all of these topics Tools: print \| email \| discuss \| write to the editor \| subscribe \| RSS Share: digg \| hugg \| stumbleupon \| reddit \| newsvine \| fark \| facebook Bookmark: del.icio.us \| google \| yahoo Two Steps Back Ford backs out on hybrid pledge, plans more alt-fuel vehicles Remember Ford's much-hyped commitment to produce 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010? Er, about that: CEO Bill Ford Jr. backpedaled on the promise Wednesday. While not abandoning hybrids altogether, he said Ford's focus (ha) is shifting (ha ha) to cars that can run on alternative fuels like ethanol, clean diesel, and biodiesel. In an email to employees, the CEO said the quarter-million-hybrids objective was "too narrow to achieve our larger goals of substantially improving fuel economy and CO2 performance." (Of course, ethanol substantially improves neither, so, uh, WTF?) Also on Wednesday, Bill Ford and the CEOs of General Motors and Chrysler pledged to Congress that they would double production of alt-fuel vehicles to 2 million by the end of the decade. In addition, Ford announced plans to partner with VeraSun Energy to open about 50 new ethanol fueling stations in the Midwest. straight to the source: The Detroit News, Bryce G. Hoffman and Deb Price, 29 Jun 2006 straight to the source: The New York Times, Micheline Maynard and Jeremy W. Peters, 29 Jun 2006 straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, 29 Jun 2006 straight to the source: The Seattle Times, Associated Press, Ken Thomas, 29 Jun 2006 ADVERTISING POLICY Comments: There are no comments. Be the first to post! You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five. Username: Password: Forgot your password? Enter your username and click: The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?	Also in Grist Dress for Spook-cess Umbra's Gore-y ideas for eco-themed Halloween costumes. Sustaina-Boo! How to green your Halloween. Hangin' With My Peeps The illicit urban chicken movement is taking wing across the nation. A Cure for What Ales You A tasting of five fall-friendly organic dark brews. The Week's Most Popular Viewed Commented Emailed The Alliance for Climate Protection says ABC barred ad calling out Big Oil Ask Umbra on green cookware Ingrid Jackson's question about climate change put candidates on the spot See at a glance where the presidential contenders stand on climate and energy issues Ask Umbra on refrigerator downsizing Nuclear proponents are, like, totally John Galt McCain mystified by Obama's concerns over nuclear Toyota may develop "Prius on steroids" How current GHG policy distorts capital allocation With little oversight, BP, Chevron, ADM, and Cargill cook up next-gen biofuels Ask Umbra on green cookware A tasting of five fall-friendly organic dark brews Weighing Obama's and McCain's stances on food and farm policy How to find a green job The Alliance for Climate Protection says ABC barred ad calling out Big Oil From the Archives Club Afoot, 29 Jun 2006 Knot So Fast, 28 Jun 2006 At Least the Bugs Are Dead, 27 Jun 2006 Daily Grist Archives