Ford CEO sees future with hybrids : Mulally expects many combinations
Darrell Hughes, Detroit Free Press Business Editor
Detroit, June 27, 2007
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/BUSINESS01/706270341/1002
Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally told reporters Tuesday at a youth car repair competition that he envisions a future with many more varieties of hybrid vehicles. “Hybrids will continue to play an important part in energy independence and security, and global warming,” Mulally said. “The hybrids we’re looking at now are petrol and electricity. But over time, I can also see hybrids with diesel and electricity, and also hydrogen and electricity and petrol.”
The view that hybrids should be included in the powertrain technology of most, if not all, vehicles of the future seems to be growing. On Tuesday, the head of General Motors Corp.’s Cadillac vehicles said it makes sense as gas prices hover near $3 a gallon. “Pretty much every program I am looking at going forward has got a hybrid as part of it,” John Howell, Cadillac’s product chief, told Bloomberg News. The division’s first hybrid will be the 2009 Escalade SUV.
While Honda and Toyota offered the first hybrid vehicles, the Insight and Prius, Ford offered the first hybrid version of an SUV, the Escape. Ford considers itself to be a domestic leader with hybrid technology, which it developed in part through cross-licensing of technology with Toyota.
But its commitment to hybrids has fluctuated. Last year, Ford backed off a prior goal to produce 250,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010. Even though GM is receiving media attention after showing an electric-drive concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, Mulally said Ford isn’t feeling any extra pressure. “It’s good for all of us because we’re all working on the different propulsion systems going forward,” he said. “It’s just the future of continuous improvement in fuel efficiency. … It’s going to be important for all of us.”