Ford Changes Plan for Explorers

Earlier this year, Ford announced it planned to use so-called mild-hybrid technology to
improve the fuel economy of Explorer sport-utility vehicles. Part of the plan was to use a
starter-generator system that can shut off the engine at a traffic light and then provide a
boost when the vehicle starts off again. Since then, Ford has decided that the benefits of
integrated starter-generator technology are greater on smaller vehicles. However, Ford says
it is still committed to boosting fuel economy of its SUVs by 25 percent by 2005.