Ford Motor Company will deliver on its 2006 pledge to double the number of 2010 model year flexible-fuel vehicles it produces in the U.S.  Flexible-fuel vehicles are capable of running on E-85 (a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), gasoline or any mixture of the two fuels.

The announcement was made today by Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, at the 2010 BIO International Convention in Chicago. 

“Flexible-fuel vehicles are a great alternative for our customers because they provide owners with the option to choose between using E-85 and gasoline when filling up a car,” Cischke said.  “Ethanol and other biofuels also help reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil.” 

More ethanol is now produced and used in the U.S. than the amount of gasoline made from oil imported to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia and Iraq combined.

Ford’s pledge to double the number of 2010 model year flexible-fuel vehicles produced in the U.S. is based on the company’s final 2006 model year flexible-fuel vehicle production.  Ford produced nearly 185,000 2006 model year flexible-fuel vehicles.  Assuming incentives continue to encourage the manufacturing, distribution and availability of renewable fuels as well as the production of flexible fuel vehicles, Ford remains committed to expand flexible-fuel vehicle output to 50 percent of total 2012 model year vehicle production.

Ford currently offers 11 flexible-fuel vehicles in the U.S. including the Ford Escape, Fusion,     F-150, Crown Victoria, Expedition and E-Series; the Lincoln Navigator and Town Car; and the Mercury Milan, Grand Marquis and Mariner.

Ford will continue to build products capable of running on renewable fuels such as bio-diesel and E-85 ethanol.  This includes the new 2011 Super Duty, which is offered with two bio-fuel options, a diesel engine that operates on B-20 bio-diesel or a conventional engine that operates on E-85. 

“Flexible-fuel vehicles are one of the many environmental technologies Ford is providing customers,” said Cischke.  “In addition to biofuels, we also are working on a range of other advanced fuel efficient technologies, including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, clean diesel and electrified vehicles.”

Ford has announced an aggressive plan to bring next-generation hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure battery-electric vehicles to market more quickly and affordably.  Ford’s plan calls for five new electrified vehicles in the next three years in North America and Europe, beginning with the Transit Connect Electric, which debuts later this year in the U.S.