Southwest Gas Gets Ford's Ethanol Hybrids
The Las Vegas-based company receives hybrid electric flexible fuel vehicles to use in customer service applications.
Ford Motor Company's demonstration fleet of ethanol-fueled hybrids is ready to go to work on the streets of Las Vegas. Recently, Ford's Joe Castelli, director of commercial trucks, handed over to Southwest Gas the keys to an E85 Escape Hybrid, which will be used in customer service applications. The first three E85 Escape Hybrids were delivered to the Department of Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition (GEC) in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. A total of 20 Ford E85 Escape Hybrids will be delivered to select fleet customers in six states, staking Ford's claim to another important industry first. These are the world's first hybrid vehicles capable of operating on blends of fuel containing as much as 85 percent ethanol.
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