California Natural Gas Vehicle Education Campaign Again Asks Bill Ford to Explain, Reverse Natural Gas Vehicle Decision

Ford Promotes NGVs in Europe But Has Yet to Provide Justification for Discontinuing U.S. Production

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 -- In a recent open letter to William Clay Ford, Jr., The California Natural Gas Vehicle Education Campaign urged the CEO to reconsider his company's decision to discontinue production of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the United States. The letter, which ran as an advertisement in The Gas Vehicles Report, was signed by the American Lung Association of California, A-Z Bus Sales, Inc., Better World Group, the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, the City of Burbank (CA), the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, Clean Energy, EVO Environmental Vehicles and the Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition.

The group continues to emphasize today's benefits from NGVs, including the fact that these vehicles -- which many fleets rely upon for buses, taxis and shuttle services -- emit up to 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline-powered vehicles. This not only benefits the environment but also helps diversify our energy supply. The group also continues to point out that Ford received significant public resources to develop, build and market NGVs from the tax-paying public. Now those U.S. tax dollars will benefit Europe instead of our own citizens.

"The decision by Ford also strands millions of dollars of public funds and severely threatens both the short-term and long-term plans of public agencies to fulfill their obligations to improve air quality and the environment through the use of NGVs," reads the letter. "Moreover, demand for NGVs is such that the production capacity of other auto manufacturers is not enough to make up the void caused by Ford's departure."

Until this decision, Ford was the largest U.S. producer of NGVs, and cities across the country have relied upon Ford Crown Victorias, vans and trucks to create environmentally friendly fleets. These vehicles are used by airports, police departments and municipalities -- all of whom are left with clean air initiatives that can no longer be met.

Last week, The Arizona Republic reported that several Phoenix-area fleets would be adversely affected by Ford's decision. By stopping production of NGVs, cities such as Mesa and Phoenix will now have to reevaluate the future of their alternative fuel programs.

"In a twist of irony, Ford ran an advertisement directly across the page from ours," said Mike Eaves, president of the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition. "The ad promoted their NGV vehicles in Europe. We would really like for Ford to explain why they are leaving Americans in the lurch here. How can it be good enough to produce NGVs in Europe but not the U.S.? It just doesn't make sense."