Ford Gives 12 Hybrid Suvs To National Parks
The Ford Motor Company has donated 12 of its latest gas-electric hybrids for use in America’s national parks. The hybrid sport utility vehicles (SUVs) were donated to the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the national parks.
The 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid is the world’s first hybrid sport utility vehicle. The fuel efficient vehicle can operate independently using gas or electric power, minimizing exhaust emissions.
Two of the 12 donated vehicles will remain in the Washington, D.C. area for use by park rangers and staff at the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Historical National Park and select units of the National Capital Region.
The remaining vehicles are expected to be utilized in urban national parks in California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New York.
Ford’s donation to the National Park Foundation is part of an ongoing effort to provide advanced technology vehicles that help the parks preserve the environment.
Ford has assisted with the restoration of a fleet of 33 historic red buses in Glacier National Park. The buses were restored with new chassis and engines that run on cleaner-burning propane fuel.
Ford also has donated more than 600 electric vehicles to national parks, state parks and other federal land management agencies in California, Massachusetts, and New York.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.
