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Ford Announces Largest Ever Natural Gas Taxi Sale

9 April 1998

Ford Announces Largest Ever Natural Gas Taxi Sale

    NEW YORK, April 9 -- Ford Motor Company today
announced the largest single sale ever of its natural gas-powered Crown
Victoria taxicabs to Winner's Garage in Woodside, Queens.
    Winner's Garage, a New York taxicab company, will convert all of its 100
vehicles into a natural gas fleet by the end of this year.
    The announcement was made by Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Alex Trotman at the New York Auto Show.  Trotman also unveiled a month-long
program designed to supply a year's worth of free fuel to drivers who purchase
a natural gas-powered Ford Crown Victoria taxicab.
    The fuel program is intended to encourage taxi fleet operators to choose
cleaner-burning natural gas.  Customers can use the $5,000 incentive money for
either a year's worth of free natural gas fuel or an on-site FuelMaker
refueling device to taxi operators who order 1998 model dedicated Natural Gas
Crown Victoria sedans from now until May 12.
    The taxicab sedan is based on Ford's dedicated natural gas Crown Victoria.
When first introduced in 1996, the vehicle was the first mass-produced
dedicated natural gas car in North America and the cleanest internal
combustion car on the road.  It remains among the cleanest today, meeting
stringent federal and California emissions standards.
    Combining the incentives now offered by the State of New York and Ford
Motor Company, the cost of a natural gas taxicab becomes lower than that of a
gasoline version of the sedan.
    "At Ford we're committed to actions that can have a significant impact on
the environment right now," said Trotman.  "The offer to taxi owners and
operators is focused on quickly putting substantial numbers of Ford natural
gas taxis on the streets of New York City.  More than 2,600 tons of pollution
would be eliminated every year if New York City's 12,000 medallion cabs were
operated on natural gas."
    Ford's fuel offer is being marketed to taxi drivers with a unique ad
printed in five languages -- English, Haitian French, Punjabi, Bengali and
Urdu.  Radio, print and subway billboard advertising will also support the
program.
    Ford now offers extended range tanks for the natural gas Crown Victoria
taxi nationwide.  The extended range tank package, which will be used by
Winner's Garage, was piloted in New York City taxis during the 1997 model
year.  It gives taxi operators a 50 percent improvement in driving range
compared to the standard natural gas tank package.
    The car emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, reactive
carbons and nitrogen oxide.  In general, the Crown Victoria natural gas
vehicle (NGV) emits 84 percent less smog-forming hydrocarbon emissions than
most vehicles in its class.
    There are currently 14 public natural gas refueling stations located in
New York City, including one at John F. Kennedy Airport.  FuelMaker
Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, manufactures the only complete on-site
refueling system available in North America.  A MI range of models and
accessories can be installed wherever natural gas service is available.  It
can accommodate fleets of any size and provides both overnight and fast-fill
(two minute) capabilities.
    Ford and its partner, the State of New York, are encouraging taxi drivers
to purchase natural gas vehicles.  The New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Gas Research Institute also provide
support.  Additional support comes from New York City's Taxi and Limousine
Commission, Department of Transportation, the Mayor's Office of
Transportation, Brooklyn Union Gas and ConEd.
    The NOV Crown Victoria is one vehicle in a lineup of Ford natural gas
products that also includes the dedicated natural gas F-250 pickup truck and
Econoline van and bi-fuel Ford Contour sedan, F-Series pickup and Econoline
van.  Ford offers the industry's broadest range of alternative fuel vehicles
(AFVs), including the Ford Ranger electric pickup truck.  Last year Ford sold
more than 91 percent of all AFVs in the United States.

SOURCE  Ford Motor Company