One of the first rules of numbers in corporate PR is to use the percentage when the actual number are small. For example, if you've got an SUV that get 10 mpg and you build a new version that gets 12, you don't say it has a two mpg jump, you say it's 20 percent. Much more impressive that way. So, what do we make of Ford's announcement yesterday that its European flexifuel vehicle sales jumped up 60 percent? Let's look at the numbers (which Ford provides, a good sign that they're confident).

In 2007, Ford of Europe sold 17,500 Flexifuel vehicles. This is a serious amount, considering that Ford has only sold 45,000 such vehicles in all of Europe since introducing the technology in Europe (specifically Sweden) seven years ago (overall Ford of Europe's 2007 sales (1.83 million) increased 5.4 percent compared to 2006. Still, bioethanol car sales in Europe are far lower than such sales in the U.S.

Ford says that its "Renewable energy powered Flexifuel range [will] be extended in early 2008" with three new ethanol-ready models: the new Mondeo, Ford Galaxy and Ford S-MAX.

Related:

• Ford is flex-fuel top seller in Germany

[Source: Ford of Europe]

During 2007, Ford has sold more than 1,700 Flexi-fuel (able to run on unleaded and E85) cars in Germany, which makes it the top seller in that country. Among this number, Fold sold 805 Focus Flexi-Fuel (sedan and station-wagon) and 872 C-Max (60 percent - 629 units - more than in 2006) vehicles. In 2005, Ford sold only 67 Flexi-fuel cars, 1,048 in 2006 and exactly 1,677 last year.

Ford has sold more than 35,000 Flexi-fuel vehicles in Sweden as well and currently sells them in 17 European countries (including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Spain)

Ford will introduce three additional Flexi-fuel models in March: the S-Max, the Galaxy and the Mondeo (pictured above) flex-fuel, with an adapted 2.0-liter engine.

[Source: Ford Germany (link is in German)]

Tomorrow (Friday the 26th) morning, bewteen 7 a.m. and 8:25 a.m., one gas station in Madison, Wisconsin (actually in a Madison suburb) will be giving away E85. First-come, first served. The exact location is mentioned in the GM press release after the jump.

Why a press release from GM on this giveaway? Because it's GM that's footing the bill as part of the "Fuel for Thought" tour. The free (to the driver) fuel is due in part to a Wisconsin law that says that the price of fuel can change just one time every 24 hours. While the usual M.O. for these ethanol publicity stunts is to lower the price to 85 cents or so for a few hours, the law prevents that in this case (and you know the stations don't want to sell it that cheaply for an entire day) . Therefore, GM decided to go the free gas route this time.

As for that name, "Fuel for Thought," I'm sure many of our readers have their own thoughts on ethanol, no? Still, if you're in Madison tomorrow morning with a flex-fuel car, might as well fill up for free.

[Source: GM via Bob from ALAMN]

First Portugal and Scandinavia, now it's the U.K.'s turn. Tourists, businessmen and collision survivors now have the option of renting green with the introduction of the Toyota Prius to Avis' UK fleets. In addition to being kinder to the environment, the Prius is also exempt from the U.K.'s congestion charge, making it more wallet-friendly.

Avis Scandinavia also has the pleasure of maintaining several Ford Flexi-fuel cars and 400 Saab 9-5 BioPower cars, simply because they're in Scandinavia. Lucky Swedes. Because of these efforts of Avis going green, they claim to have saved 76,500 tons of CO2 emissions. Impossible, you say? You're right, because green cars alone can't accomplish that figure, which is why Avis, in conjunction with The CarbonNeutral Company, has been planting a tree for every vehicle in their fleet since 1998. A valiant effort, Avis. Keep up the good work.

Related post:

• Avis to offer 1,000 Priuses for rent on the west coast

[Source: Avis]