NEW POWERSOUTH HYBRID VEHICLE SERVES AS RESEARCH MATERIAL

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PHOTO CAPTION: The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid’s dash graphics include a digital tree depicting the fuel efficiency of the car. Faster growth of leaves on the digital tree indicates “greener” driving.

ANDALUSIA, ALA. – As part of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s ongoing efforts to explore energy efficiency options available to the public and business realms, PowerSouth has added a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid to its headquarters pool car fleet.

The hybrid vehicle was introduced to the fleet in May with the purpose of saving on gas expenses and reiterating PowerSouth’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen by reducing the company’s environmental impact and fuel consumption.

“More than anything, we just wanted to test the capabilities of a hybrid for ourselves,” said Terry Wilson, PowerSouth Manager of T&D Operation and Maintenance, whose department is responsible for the fleet. “We’re interested in discovering the comprehensive reliability, gas efficiency and economy of the vehicle to better determine whether or not it’s a positive alternative PowerSouth would like to continue pursuing in the future.”

A hybrid vehicle uses at least two different sources of energy to make transportation possible. The Ford Fusion Hybrid – like most other hybrids on the market – runs off of a battery-powered electric motor at lower speeds. On the highway and at faster speeds, the Ford Fusion Hybrid shifts to full use of the gas engine or, in some cases, a combination of gas and electric power. Due to the hybrid’s innovative mixed gasoline-electric power system, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid has an estimated annual fuel cost of $937 – less than half the fuel cost of a non-hybrid vehicle of the same or similar size and make.

“We won’t know for a period of time the amount of savings the hybrid vehicle will truly create,” Wilson said. “We’re interested in knowing the life expectancy of the vehicle’s battery bank and how much it will cost to replace it. Typically we try to keep passenger cars in the fleet operational for a decade or more.”

According to Ford Motor Company’s website, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid boasts a fuel economy of 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The vehicle employs the use of an already fuel-efficient 4-cylinder gas engine, as well as a battery bank to shave a portion of the fuel cost.

Hybrid vehicles produce less pollution than standard vehicles -- some hybrid models reduce air pollution by up to 90 percent. Current hybrids on the market reduce emissions by a third to a half with the expectation of greater emission reduction in the future.

PowerSouth recently ordered a second hybrid for use in the company’s fleet, which is intended to broaden the amount of research done and information gained on the hybrid car. The second hybrid will be a 2011 model of the Ford Fusion Hybrid and is expected to arrive at PowerSouth’s Andalusia headquarters later this year.

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About PowerSouth:

PowerSouth serves the wholesale energy needs of 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems in Alabama and northwest Florida, with more than a million consumers in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties. PowerSouth is dedicated to providing reliable energy at the lowest possible cost to its members.

For more information:

Mark Ingram, Corporate Communication Manager

334.427.3330

mark.ingram@powersouth.com

www.powersouth.com

PowerSouth is an EEO and AAP employer

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