In his most recent State of the Union Address, US President George W. Bush stated that one of the goals of the current administration is "to promote energy independence" for the country. He asked the legislators to enact laws aimed at protecting the environment, and he also did propose a $1.2 billion fund for research on the use of hydrogen as a potential substitute to gasoline.
He also asked the nation to: "Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy." Recently, the President made a move that supports his statements earlier in the year by visiting the Ford Motor Company's Kansas plant where hybrid and flex fuel vehicles are being developed and produced.
The Kansas City Assembly Plant by Ford with more than 300 employees welcomed the President when he toured the hybrid assembly line. He addressed the gathered employees of the plant saying: "Technology changes the way we have lived our lives and technology is going to change the way we drive our cars." The President also commended the development undertaken by the country's second largest car manufacturer in the development of flex fuel vehicles which can run on E85 fuel. This fuel is a combination of bio-ethanol and it is produced from agricultural products and is used as a conventional gasoline. The President said: "You're making a new kind of automobile that is literally a part of changing America for the better."
Ford's top man Alan Mulally was present to welcome and tour the President around the facility. He has this to say during the President's visit on the company's plant: "Ford stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. At Kansas City Assembly, we are doing some exciting things. In addition to producing the nation's first hybrid electric SUV, we are also building the best-selling pickup truck in the world - the Ford F-150 - capable of running on E85 ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two fuels."
Ford's president and Chief Executive Officer also highlighted the company's other efforts in consonance with the administrations goal of energy independency by saying: "We are also developing a range of advanced technologies that improve fuel efficiency, such as clean diesel, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells and advanced gasoline engines. These advanced technologies will help reduce green house gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign petroleum."
These technologies being developed by the Ford Motor Company will serve as a good stepping stone for the future of green cars. With these vehicles, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by their vehicles will be reduced as efficiently as a reduces unwanted noise. The Ford Motor Company has already invested $100 million in the production of both the conventional and hybrid version of the Ford Escape. Ford is also the parent of Mercury brand which is the producer of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.
Aside from these vehicles, the President was also shown the Ford Edge equipped with the HySeries Driveâ„? which is the first fuel cell plug in hybrid electric vehicle. In closing, Ken Ward, the plant manager of the Kansas City Assembly has this to say: "It is an extraordinary honor for us to welcome the President into our plant. Our employees had the opportunity to explain the hybrid production process and demonstrate their commitment to building the best hybrid and E85 vehicles in the world."
