Clean fuel cars

Hybrid sales could comprise 20 per cent of the vehicle sales by 2010

 
Published: Tuesday 29 February 2000

cars and trucks that run on a combination of electricity and other fuels -- also known as hybrids -- could comprise 20 per cent of the vehicle sales by 2010. This was stated by William Ford Jr, chairman of Ford Motor Co during a dinner speech at the Automotive News Congress, an annual industry trade conference. But he predicted that both hybrids and vehicles powered by traditional internal combustion engines will eventually be replaced by clean-burning fuel cell engines.

Ford said "it's going to be a winning situation all the way around -- consumers will get an efficient power source, communities will get zero emissions and automakers will get another major business opportunity -- a growth opportunity."

Hybrids now make up a tiny fraction of vehicles sold. Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co Ltd currently sell hybrid vehicles in Japan and are expected to start sales in the United States this year.

Ford Motor, General Motors Corp and DaimlerChrysler ag are scheduled to introduce hybrid vehicles that get around 129 miles per 3.8 litres by 2003 as part of a us government-sponsored programme.

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