DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Fire safety systems company SimplexGrinnell has ordered 200 Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrid sedans with a goal of replacing 25 percent of its fleet with hybrid vehicles.
Sales and leadership staff members will use the midsize cars, which get an estimated 41 miles per gallon of gas in the city and 36 on the highway, the companies said in a statement.
SimplexGrinnell, part of Tyco International Ltd., also bought 200 Focus compacts, 50 Taurus full-sized sedans, 28 Fusions with conventional gas engines and a few Edge small crossover vehicles. A crossover has much of the hauling capacity of a sport utility vehicle but generally is more efficient and handles better because it\'s built on car underpinnings.
Most vehicles in SimplexGrinnell\'s fleet of 7,000 are large trucks and vans, but the company has about 2,000 cars.
SimplexGrinnell said in the statement that the hybrids will be used mainly in major metropolitan areas.
ADT Security Services, also a Tyco company, plans to order 3,000 Transit Connect small commercial vans from Ford in the next six months in an effort to save fuel.
SimplexGrinnell specializes in fire alarms, sprinklers, fire suppression and other security and safety systems.
