Ford has revealed a hybrid Escape research SUV in the US which will use ethanol fuel as well as electric power, and which the company's engineers say could cut a further 25 percent C02 emissions from the original hybrid.
Ethanol releases no fossil–based CO2, so its use in place of petrol reduces the release of greenhouse gases.
Ford plans to build 250,000 hybrid vehicles a year globally by the end of the decade.
A biofuel Focus is being launched in Ireland this month and a Government tax break has enabled Ford Ireland to retail the Focus FFV, which can run on either ethanol or conventional petrol, at €3000 less than equivalent models.
Brian Byrne.
