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Coyote Point Park to Begin Using Ford Electric Trucks

30 July 1997

Coyote Point Park to Begin Using Ford Electric Trucks

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 30 -- A new type of Ranger pickup
truck will be joining the California county parks system this summer -- but
the only difference park visitors will notice is how quietly it runs.
    San Mateo County park crews in Coyote Point County Park took a Ford Ranger
electric vehicle (EV) through an extensive test drive earlier this week.
Representatives from the County put the truck through its paces and determined
that its performance and features were ideally suited for park use.
    "We used this truck for everything from regular park maintenance to
responding to visitor service needs," says Patrick Sanchez, director of parks
and recreation for San Mateo County.  "We loaded the truck up with tools, gear
and materials and found that it handled even the roughest park trails very
well."
    San Mateo County liked the performance of the Ranger EV so well that they
are planning to purchase two of the vehicles when they roll off the production
line at the end of this year.  Sanchez says that the EVs' utility and
environmental friendliness will make it a hit at county parks.
    "It was fun to watch people's reactions when they realized we were driving
an electric truck," adds Sanchez.  "We attracted a lot more attention this
week than we usually get."
    Powered by lead acid batteries, the rigorously tested Ranger EV has a
driving range between charges of approximately 50 miles and accelerates from
0-60 in 12.5 seconds, similar to the gasoline powered Ranger.  This
environmentally sound vehicle is targeted primarily for customers such as
utilities, government fleets and key commercial fleets.
    "Our vehicle testing showed us that the Ranger EV is sturdy enough to
withstand constant use, even in poor road conditions," said Mike McCabe,
Ford's worldwide alternative fuel vehicle marketing manager.  "We ran our
Ranger EVs through the same high-concentration, three-foot deep salt-water
baths as our gasoline Ranger and the EVs handled it without any problems."
    The Ranger EVs will be used at Coyote Point Park and other San Mateo
County parks including Crystal Springs Trail and San Pedro Valley Park.
Coyote Point Park, centrally located in San Mateo County, is visited by over
1.5 million people each year.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company