WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- The United States is adding 12 gas-electric hybrid SUV's to its fleet, courtesy of the Ford Motor Co.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton will accept the keys to a dozen 2005 Ford Escape Hybrids Wednesday in Washington, which will be delivered personally by Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford.
The head of Ford Motors is heading to the nation's capital to explain the innovative technology and underpinnings of the gasoline-electric Escape Hybrid, which went a record 576 miles in city driving on a single tank of gas during this year's New York Auto Show. The small SUV was driven around Manhattan non-stop until its 15-gallon fuel tank ran dry, for an average 38.4 miles per gallon.
Ford is donating the 12 Escapes, the world's first hybrid sport-utility vehicle, to the National Park Foundation.
In 2001, Bill Ford promised to increase mileage of Ford SUVs 25 percent by 2007. While Ford has backed away from that ambitious goal, he personally pushed for production of the Escape, which eventually could improve Ford's overall vehicle fleet economy.
