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FORD SHOWCASES ECO-FRIENDLY VEHICLES AT UH
Ford�s
�Power of Choice Tour� stopped by UH to show off its
eco-friendly vehicles on Tuesday, October 25 at the UC. UH has
been nationally recognized for its sustainability efforts making
it a smart choice to showcase Ford�s eco-friendly options.
�Houston is an important market for us, especially for our
trucks. We wanted to bring the Power of Choice message here to
let people know that we�re not just about trucks, we have many
great eco-friendly products to offer,� said Carrie Majeske,
manager of product sustainability for Ford. �The young
population here is a big opportunity for Ford and it is good to
see a sustainability mindset.�
Ford representatives treated media and members of the UH
community to breakfast and gave a presentation in the UC Big
Bend room followed by a Q&A session and test drive
opportunities. Participants were invited to sign up for a drive
and check out the fleet of vehicles that have been designed with
the environment in mind.
Around the UC circle were Ford models including the Transit
Connect Electric, Focus Electric, Fiesta, Fusion Hybrid, along
with an F150, Edge and Explorer containing EcoBoost engines.
The Ford Electric is the company�s first all-electric,
zero-emissions vehicle that is scheduled to be available in late
2011. The model is powered by a 23 kwh high-voltage lithium-ion
battery system that is designed to reduce energy loss and your
carbon footprint. This vehicle can travel up to 100 miles on a
fully-charged battery and would be best suited for commuters
making short trips around the city. Ford has partnered with Best
Buy and the Geek Squad for the home installations of the
charging stations (240-volt or 120-volt). The Transit Connect
Electric is its fully-electric utility van that is now available
for purchase. This model also has a lithium ion battery which
can travel a range of 50-80 miles.
As
gas prices have gotten higher, many consumers and UH students on
a budget have fuel efficiency in mind. Ford also brought along
some of its fuel-efficient models such as the Fiesta, which gets
40 miles per gallon on the highway, and the Fusion Hybrid. The
Fusion Hybrid gets its power from a combination of a combustion
engine and smaller battery. It can run in electric mode up to 40
mph and then will switch to gas as the vehicle travels at higher
speeds. Ford reports that this model is 70 percent better for
fuel economy than regular gas-powered vehicles.
Majeske reported that 40 percent of F150 trucks sold now have
EcoBoost engines, which means the vehicle gets up to 20 percent
better fuel economy and emits 15 percent less carbon dioxide
into the environment. This new engine uses a gasoline direct
injection that allows for lower emissions and better efficiency.
For more information on Ford�s eco-friendly vehicles, visit
http://www.ford.com. For
more green commuting options on campus, visit
https://www.uh.edu/pts/greencommute.htm.
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