Editorial: Fueling a new frontier

Saturday, July 1, 2006 | 8:10 a.m.

F ord Motor Co. is abandoning its pledge to build 250,000 gas-electric hybrids by the end of the decade, as company officials say they want to expand into other fuel-saving technologies.

According to a story in Friday's Washington Post, environmentalists say Ford is backsliding from its commitments, while industry experts say the decision emphasizes the challenges of selling hybrid technology to the mainstream market.

In a letter to employees, the Post reports, Ford Chairman William C. Ford Jr. called the 250,000 goal "too narrow" to achieve significant fuel economy improvements or to decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Instead, the company will now focus on developing better technologies for engines and transmissions while also manufacturing vehicles that use diesel, biodiesel and ethanol fuel blend E85. Ethanol is made from corn.

Hybrids offer a great option for certain segments of the auto market, such as people who make a lot of shorter, in-town trips. But these vehicles burn conventional gasoline on long, high-speed highway drives, which means they are not for everyone.

Alternative fuels represent a new territory for automakers, and no one knows for certain what will work best. Ford and other companies should be willing to change course and explore alternatives, such as vehicles that can run on the ethanol blend. While only about 700 gas stations nationwide offer ethanol-based fuel, the potential is there for more to do so if more cars equipped to use it are put on the road.

While we support the use of hybrid vehicles wherever they are appropriate, we also recognize that a one-alternative-fits-all approach to building vehicles won't work. Ford has decided it will explore other viable alternatives, and we think that is a good plan - for motorists and the environment.