For the Greener Good: Mazda Donates Hybrid Cars
Intertwined with the fresh, salty edge of the Pacific, California's warm winds are blowing in a new breeze. A good breeze. A green breeze. We've heard plenty of talk about going green from the big automotive companies lately, and Mazda, headquartered in Irvine, CA, is finally putting a healthy foot forward. The company has loaned 30 clean-burning, fuel-efficient prototype Tribute Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) to fire agencies across the southern half of the state.
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For two years, the gasoline-electric hybrid version of Mazda's compact SUV, Tribute, will cruise the streets of Orange County and Los Angeles (among others) dressed in the familiar colors and badges of each county. They'll be driven by firefighters for varous assignments -- primarily non-emergency functions -- such as safety inspections, educational programs and for day-to-day department activities.
“We wanted to give something back to the community with these Tribute Hybrid SUVs,” said Jim O’Sullivan, Mazda North America’s president and CEO. “Southern California firefighters are among the best in the country, and we’re proud to have them in our backyard. The lives and property of our employees and dealers were saved a few years ago by these brave men and women, and it is a privilege for us to be able to partially repay their courageous efforts with the two-year loan of these Tribute HEVs.”
Putting Tribute HEV prototypes into the hands of the Southland fire agencies, of course, also helps Mazda.
“Although we don’t sell a Tribute HEV now, the varied driving conditions these vehicles will be put through, as well as the input on on-road performance we will receive from the fire agencies, will be valuable in the development of our first production HEV,” O’Sullivan added.
Mazda’s Tribute HEV is 99.4 percent cleaner, on average, than a conventional vehicle, yet still delivers the performance required by SUV owners. With a combined output of 155 horsepower, this Tribute HEV provides plenty of power yet meets strict Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEVII) and Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in California – the strictest emission regulations a gasoline-fueled vehicle can meet.
(Source: Mazda) |
