Coordinated effort needed to address energy concerns
Energy is literally the fuel that powers the industrial and manufacturing growth of the United States. The energy supply disruptions of last summer, increases in global demand and geopolitical concerns have led to significantly higher energy prices and consumer angst at the fuel pump.Our nation's energy challenges can only be properly addressed by an integrated approach: a partnership of all stakeholders, which includes the automotive industry, the fuel industry, government and consumers.
From an industry viewpoint, it is critical to note the significant steps already taken to improve the fuel efficiency of our products. Fuel economy rates in cars increased by more than 100 percent since the mid-70s, and for trucks and SUVs the rates increased by 53 percent. We are now moving ahead with a range of technological solutions simultaneously, because there is simply no single solution, no "silver bullet." We are working to accelerate the commercial application of all areas of advanced vehicle technologies, including flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), hybrids, advanced clean diesels, hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines and fuel cell vehicles.
Two years ago, Ford launched the world's first gasoline electric full hybrid SUV, and we will expand that technology to other vehicles in our lineup. In addition to hybrids, we believe that greater use of renewable fuels like ethanol, a domestically produced, renewable fuel, will help reduce reliance on foreign oil. FFVs are able to operate on up to 85 percent ethanol, or gasoline, or any mixture in between — providing customers with an option to choose between E85 and gasoline as they desire.
As a whole, the U.S. automakers will have produced a total of nearly 6 million FFVs by the end of this year. If all of these vehicles were operated on E85, over 3.6 billion gallons of gasoline a year could be displaced. That's like saving a full year of gasoline consumption in a state like Missouri or Tennessee. E85 can play an increasingly significant role in addressing our nation's energy concerns. It is a pathway for today with the ability to make an impact now.
Recently, the auto industry has committed to doubling the number of biofuel capable vehicles by 2010. But there is a problem. Even though the volume of E85 vehicles continues to grow rapidly, there are less than 800 E85 fueling stations in the U.S, out of over 170,000 retail gasoline fueling stations nationwide. The infrastructure must be expanded, but without the strong support of fuel providers, we cannot move forward far enough or fast enough.
Policy-makers also have a key role. We would like to see government incentives to encourage the oil industry or others to accelerate E85 infrastructure investment as well as more R & D support for advanced vehicle technologies and renewable fuels.
There is even a role for the consumer, because in the end, it will ultimately be consumers' choice of vehicles, how many miles they drive and their driving behaviors that will determine how much motor fuel we consume.
The challenges are considerable, but not insurmountable. We have to ensure that our business is sustainable by making vehicles that continue to meet the changing needs of the 21st century. That's a responsibility all automakers owe customers, shareholders and employees. But at another level, all of us have the opportunity to do something about energy independence, and that's a responsibility we owe to future generations.
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Sue Cischke is Vice President of Environmental and Safety Engineering at Ford Motor Company.
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