Date: February 7, 2005
Contact: John Dell'Osso, 415-464-5135
Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that Point Reyes National Seashore is the recipient of a Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle. The vehicle, which was granted to the Park by the National Park Foundation and Ford Motor Company, a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks, will be used to transport staff around the Park as well as to various locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
"The Seashore is very excited to using alternative fuel vehicles along with other sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic solar systems," stated Superintendent Don Neubacher. "We are committed to not only educating the public on these technologies but utilizing them and becoming a leader on environmental innovation."
The Escape Hybrid, the first alternatively-fueled SUV produced by a major American auto maker, uses about half the gas of a standard V6 engine and can travel 400 – 500 miles on a single tank of gas. The vehicle is powered by a "full" hybrid system, which means it can run on its gasoline engine, electric battery power or both together, depending on the driving situation. The Escape hybrid also meets California’s strict Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards. An SULEV-rated vehicle will only emit a single pound of hydrocarbons during 100,000 miles of driving – the equivalent of spilling a pint of gasoline.
"We are pleased to be a Proud Partner of America's National Parks," said Sheri Shapiro, Escape marketing manager, Ford Motor Company. "The National Parks are a great way for the Escape Hybrid to demonstrate what is does best - deliver outstanding handling and capability with virtually no impact on the environment."
As a proud partner of America’s National Parks, Ford has developed a partnership with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service to identify and implement alternative transportation solutions for National Parks across the country. The National Park Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1967 and is the official nonprofit partner of America’s National Parks. In the past eight years, the Foundation has provided more than $175 million in grants and program support to National Parks. For more information on the National Park Foundation and the Proud Partner Program, please visit .
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