Ford to Spend One Million Dollars on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
25 May 1999
Ford to Spend One Million Dollars on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 24 -- Ford Motor Company
announced plans to spend at least one million dollars on developing retail
alternative fuel infrastructure to help increase use of these
environmentally-friendlier fuels. The announcement was made today at the 5th
National Clean Cities Conference and Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky.
"Ford is supporting a diverse set of projects that span many states," said
Marty Zimmerman, vice president of Government Affairs. "This is one part of
Ford's overall environmental effort and shows the company's strong commitment
to taking a leadership role in getting the word out about alternative fuels."
Alternative fuels can produce fewer emissions and greenhouse gases than
gasoline, resulting in improved air quality and reduced health problems,
particularly in high population areas.
"Ford's efforts also demonstrate the need for strong partnerships to
broaden public acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles," Zimmerman added.
"Increasing the use of fuels such as natural gas, propane and ethanol is a
complicated task which requires interested parties to work together."
Department of Energy (DOE) Pilot City Partnership Programs
Ford is partnering with the DOE to develop infrastructure in two pilot
areas. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago will become test
beds for efforts aimed at building sustainable ethanol (E85) infrastructure.
Ford will partner with the Minnesota Coalition for Ethanol, the Minnesota Corn
Growers Association, the State of Minnesota, the American Lung Association,
the National Corn Growers Association, the Illinois Corn Growers Association,
the State of Illinois, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, various fuel
retailers and others to develop a network of refueling stations in the pilot
areas.
Minnesota and Illinois are prime markets for E85 production and use.
E85 Coupon Program
Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul will also be part of a Ford coupon
program aimed at promoting the use of ethanol in flexible fuel vehicles
(FFVs). FFVs allow drivers to run their vehicles on any combination of E85
and unleaded gasoline in the same tank. In these test cities, Ford will
provide eight $5 coupons to every purchaser of a 3-liter Ford Ranger pickup,
which has FFV capability, targeting owners living within 15 miles of an E85
outlet.
The E85 coupon program is designed to encourage drivers of the Ranger FFV
to visit the 10 E85 refueling stations opening in Chicago and the up to
30 E85 stations planned for the Twin Cities area. By providing drivers with
incentives to purchase E85 rather than gasoline, Ford hopes to stimulate use
of E85 as an alternative to gasoline.
Clean Fuel USA Project
Ford is partnering with Amerigas, Touchstar, Autogas, and Conoco to
develop a propane refueling network in the Denver area. The project is
designed to make propane refueling along the Front Range of the Rocky
Mountains more accessible. The propane corridor will eventually run from
Cheyenne, Wyoming to Santa Fe, New Mexico, providing uninterrupted
availability of propane fueling in the three-state area.
The partnership is unique in that it brings together a fuel provider, a
fuel retailer, a propane dispenser manufacturer, and a vehicle manufacturer in
support of a single goal -- improving the availability and refueling
convenience of propane.
I-70 Alternative Fuel Corridor Project
Ford is working with the Kansas City and Manhattan, KS, Clean Cities
Coalitions, and local fuel providers, to develop natural gas refueling
stations along I-70 near Kansas City, Topeka, Manhattan, and Fort Riley,
Kansas. The project improves CNG availability and refueling convenience along
the I-70 corridor. This partnership promotes the use of cleaner fuel
alternatives in an area not covered by other DOE programs.
Louisville Station Development Projects
In conjunction with the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, Ford is
contributing to the installation of three E85 and one CNG station in the state
of Kentucky. The project supports increased use of alternative fuel vehicles
by the state of Kentucky, as well as the expansion of AFVs to other government
and private fleets.
Ford AFV Lineup
Ford offers a full-line of Alternative Fuel Vehicles that run on a variety
of fuels: propane, ethanol, natural gas and electricity. The AFV lineup
includes a Taurus FFV, Ranger FFV, Crown Victoria natural gas vehicle (NGV),
Contour NGV, dedicated and Bi-Fuel F-Series and Econoline NGVs, Ranger
electric vehicle, and a complete line of F-Series bi-fuel propane pickups.
Ford also offers demonstration programs for the dedicated natural gas
Expedition and dedicated propane Excursion.