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Ford is First with Vehicle Meeting Strict California LEV II Emissions

11 November 1999

Ford Motor Company is First with Vehicle Meeting Strict California LEV II Emissions

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 10 -- Ford Motor Company is
the first automaker in the world to certify and offer for sale a production
vehicle to California's strict LEV II emissions requirements.
    The vehicle is a 2000 model year Ford Crown Victoria fueled by natural
gas.  It reaches ultra-low emissions levels under California's standards for
the next generation of emissions performance several years before required.
LEV II mandates that automakers phase-in the improved emissions beginning in
the 2004 model year, with all vehicles complying by 2007.  The natural gas
Crown Victoria can be purchased now.
    "This achievement strongly illustrates a two-fold commitment," said Helen
Petrauskas, vice president, Environmental and Safety Engineering.  "First, it
is continuing evidence that Ford Motor Company is dedicated to providing
cleaner and safer vehicles at the earliest opportunity, regardless of
government timetables.  And second, it demonstrates our ongoing pursuit of
environmental solutions in the area of alternative fuels."
    The natural gas Crown Victoria will emit 67 percent fewer smog-forming
emissions than a similar vehicle meeting the current California requirements
and 86 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than a vehicle meeting the current
federal requirements.
    "We applaud Ford's low-emission Crown Victoria," said California Air
Resources Board Chairman Dr. Alan Lloyd.  "This is the type of achievement
that is required to ensure clean air for everyone."
    The Crown Victoria is able to achieve such low emissions levels from a
combination of cleaner-burning fuel and advanced systems in the vehicle.
Ford's industry-leading emissions control technology and advanced catalyst
research have allowed Ford to make continual progress in emissions-related
environmental actions.
    In general, natural gas vehicles are not only clean, they have improved
drivability and performance because of the very high efficiency of the
emissions control systems.  Additionally, from a total life-cycle perspective,
using natural gas fuel generates about 20 percent less carbon dioxide than
produced with equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles.
    Ford Motor Company is the industry leader in low emissions vehicle
applications.  In 1999, the company made all of its Sport Utilities low
emission vehicles and is doing the same for all pick-up trucks beginning in
the 2000 model year.  This will equal about two million vehicles meeting low
emission requirements years ahead of any government timetable.
    Ford also is an industry leader in the development and sales of
alternative fuel vehicles.  The company makes and sells 11 vehicles in the
U.S. that are capable of operating on fuels other than gasoline, more lines
than any other automaker.  Ford also will have three major alternative fuel
vehicle lines on the road in Europe by early next year.