Ford Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales Up This Year As Automaker Continues to Lead the Industry
14 June 1999
Ford Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales Up This Year As Automaker Continues to Lead the Industry * Ford AFV sales growth even outpaces industry light truck sales
* 1999 model year sees 24% sales increase
DEARBORN, Mich., June 14 -- Ford Motor Company
announced today that U.S. fleet sales of its alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs)
rose more than 24 percent for the 1999 model year. To highlight the
significance of these figures, Ford compared its AFV sales pace with the
entire industry's sale of light trucks, which grew 7 percent over the same
period.
"These figures prove that Ford is dedicated to marketing and selling
vehicles that reduce smog-forming emissions and greenhouse gases," says Ron
Robbins, Executive Director of North American Fleet Marketing. "While, still
low volume numbers, we want to highlight the fact that customer acceptance of
these vehicles continues to grow. That's why we are in the AFV market for the
long-haul."
Ford currently offers more alternatives in alternative fuels than any
other automaker in the world. In the U.S., Ford offers 11 alternative fuel
cars and light trucks that run on natural gas, propane, ethanol or
electricity. In addition to its fleet sales of alternative fuel vehicles, all
Ford Ranger pickups with 3.0-liter engines sold in the U.S. are capable of
running on E-85 ethanol. In Europe, Ford's AFV lineup by the end of the
calendar year, will include 5 vehicles that run on either CNG or LPG.
Some Ford AFVs are offered in dedicated alternative fuel versions, while
others are bi-fuel or flexible fuel. Dedicated vehicles operate only on the
alternative fuel, bi-fuel vehicles are equipped with separate tanks for
gasoline and the alternative fuel such as propane or natural gas, while
flexible fuel vehicles run on any combination of unleaded gasoline or ethanol
(E85 - 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) in the same tank.
"Our customers have asked us to provide a range of vehicles to meet their
needs for alternative fuels," says Robbins. "We have responded by giving them
everything from a four-door sedan to a full-size truck and van."
These vehicles are designed to meet the requirements of various government
programs. By seeking to lower emissions levels and/or reduce dependence of
foreign oil and gasoline, these government programs require certain fleets to
purchase vehicles designed to run on alternative fuels.
For the 2000 model year, Ford's entire line of F-Series Super Duty trucks
will be available as bi-fuel propane vehicles. They are being introduced in
January 2000. In addition, Ford will offer a limited demonstration program of
the new Ford Excursion in a dedicated propane version. The LPG Excursion
emissions are below California's most stringent standards for internal
combustion engines in this class. Ford is the first company to meet the Super
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle SULEV standard with a propane vehicle.
Ford is also a technology leader in developing customer-driven advanced
propulsion alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid electric and fuel cell
vehicles. Ford's driveable P2000 Fuel Cell car was first introduced in
January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. There is
also a hybrid electric version of the P2000. The goal of the overall program
is to develop next generation family vehicles that provide the same
performance and comfort and today's vehicles at the same basic cost.
Ford's U.S. Alternative Fuel Vehicle Lineup:
* Dedicated natural gas Crown Victoria * Bi-fuel natural gas Contour
* Dedicated natural gas F-Series pickup * Bi-fuel natural gas F-
Series pickup
* Dedicated natural gas Econoline van * Bi-fuel natural gas
Econoline van
* Bi-fuel propane F-Series * Bi-fuel propane Econoline
van
* E-85 flexible fuel Taurus * E-85 flexible fuel Ranger
pickup
* Electric Ranger
