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Thus far Ford has
focused all of its hybrid energy around one vehicle type,
the SUV, and its near terms plans are all based around the
Ford
Escape hybrid and related SUVs, such as the Mercury
Mariner hybrid and Mazda
Tribute hybrid.
While this is a good niche for Ford to follow, considering
that SUVs have received gas-guzzling scorn in recent
years, trucks are what really makes Ford hum.
So what not a hybrid truck?
There has been an idea in the auto industry that pickup
drivers just wouldn't be interested in such technology.
These men of men that drive pickups are too busy pulling
stumps out of the backyard and hauling tons of whatever
here and there. New research; however, shows that fuel
efficiency has become one of the most important issues for
pickup drivers according to a new R.L. Polk study (more).
Interest in fuel economy, according to the study, has
become more important than horsepower, off-road capability
and all other attributes combined (and BTW, women have
become some of truck's biggest buyers). Since Ford trucks
are the nation's best selling vehicles, wouldn't
addressing this interest with some hybrid effort be great
PR for Ford?
Is Ford missing its best opportunity in hybrid
vehicles?
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