From:  The News Herald

TAYLOR — U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-15th District) marked Earth Day a day early Thursday with representatives from the Detroit Three automakers and the United Auto Workers union.

An Earth Day Auto Show was held at UAW Region 1-A’s building, featuring electric and hybrid vehicles.

The vehicles at the event included a Chevrolet Volt and a Cruze, a Dodge Ram PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), a Chrysler 200 FFV (flexible fuel vehicle) convertible, a Ford Focus and a Ford Escape Hybrid — the same vehicle Dingell drives.

“The economic advantage, the job opportunities, the impact on the environment is all encapsulated in these products,” said Rory Gamble, Region 1-A regional director.

“We stand behind them 100 percent.”

The Earth Day viewing event showcased new technology and vehicles being developed that are environmentally friendly and fit a variety of needs from small and sporty to rugged pickup trucks and SUVs with a lot of cargo space.

“A lot of people will say, ‘Geez, if I want to drive an environmentally friendly vehicle, do I only get to drive small vehicles?’ And our answer is no, not at all,” said John Viera, Ford director of sustainability, as he showcased a hybrid F-150.

Also shown was the smaller and sportier Chevrolet Volt.

Andrew Linko, Brownstown Township supervisor, said he’s happy that the township is home to the first battery plant — which makes the Volt battery — in Michigan.

“I’m proud of the work we do,” he said.

Chrysler showed a Dodge Ram PHEV and has plans to build 140 of them for a three-year demonstration project.

It will give the vehicles to various groups across the country as a part of a U.S. Department of Energy grant of up to $48 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act DOE Vehicle Electrification program.

“It’s a great project for us because it allows us to demonstrate the technology, learn established core competency and be able to impact future technologies,” said Abdullah Bazzi, Chrysler hybrid manager.

Viera said Ford

is excited about its dual assembly plant plans for the Focus at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.

“The most exciting part, I think, about Michigan Assembly Plant is that we’re going to have a battery electric version of the Focus and a gasoline version of the Focus all being built in the same plant,” he said.

“We’re producing gas and electric vehicles down the same line, so if electric vehicles take off, I just produce more of those. If they’re not quite as high, I can produce more gasoline vehicles.”

Dingell said he believes people are ready for more fuel-efficient vehicles and they’re showing it by buying them.

“We make the best,” he said. “Our companies are still the best in the world.”

Read this at The News Herald