Is it the soaring price of gas? Is it disgust at American dependence on foreign oil? Or is it our society’s realization that we are individually responsible to do less harm to our shared environment? Whatever the question that confronts them, Mississippians are turning more and more to alternatively fueled vehicles as part of the solution. Mississippi now has 82,000 alternatively fueled automobiles zipping around its streets and highways, a recent automotive market report showed. The report, produced by R.L. Polk and Co., said hybrid electric, ethanol-capable E-85 and clean diesel autos increased by 35 percent on the state’s roads since 2005. Tony White, sales manager at Gulfport’s Butch Oustalet Ford, said his lot sells Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner electric hybrids, which work solely on batteries at slower speeds and gas at higher speeds. ‘We can’t keep them on the lot,’ White said. ‘One or two come in and they are already sold. The way the price of gas is, it looks like the demand will continue.’ Nationwide increases were applauded by industry group Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine alternative fuel vehicle manufacturers: BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, […]