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Atlanta's Checker Cab's Clean Fuel Fleet Expands

10 February 1999

Ford Natural Gas Expedition and Electric Ranger Join Atlanta Checker Cab's Clean Fuel Fleet

    *  Atlanta clean cab fleet largest in the country
    *  Georgia Power helps taxi fleet prove-out Ford electric truck

    ATLANTA, Feb. 10 -- Atlanta Checker Cab and Ford Motor
Company are joining together to put more alternative fuel vehicles
(AFVs) into service in the city.  The move will continue to make Atlanta's
largest fleet of taxis also the nation's cleanest.
    Checker Cab is adding a natural gas Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle
and an electric Ranger pickup truck to its fleet.  The Expedition will be used
as a taxi, while the Ranger electric vehicle (EV) will be used to deliver
natural gas to a taxi that runs out of fuel.
    "This is one of the most unique applications of alternative fuel vehicles
we've seen," said Mike McCabe, worldwide marketing manager for Ford's
Alternative Fuel Vehicles.  "A few years ago no one would have imagined an
electric vehicle being used to help out a natural gas vehicle."
    Ford Motor Company delivered the Expedition to Atlanta Checker Cab Company
president Rick Hewatt today as part of the Southlake Ford dealership's second
annual Alternative Fuels Conference.  The Conference gathers nearly 200
potential customers of alternative fuel vehicles together and provides
information on vehicle technology, costs and much more.
    The Ford natural gas-powered Expedition cab is one of a fleet of 50 such
SUVs that are being delivered to fleet customers around the country as part of
a three-year demonstration program.  Atlanta Checker Cab already uses 70
natural gas Ford Crown Victoria sedans in its taxi fleet.
    "It's great to see Atlanta Checker Cab continuing its a strong commitment
toward cleaner air by using our alternative fuel vehicle products in their
day-to-day operations," said McCabe.  "We hope this will be an example that
encourages other private companies for finding ways to use electric and
natural gas vehicles to supplement gasoline-powered cars and help improve the
environment."
    The Ranger EV being used by Checker Cab was recently donated by Georgia
Power.  It will be used as a support vehicle -- delivering fuel to cabs that
run out of fuel, running errands for drivers, and serving as a maintenance
vehicle when needed.
    "Atlanta Checker Cab is dedicated to doing our part to help with
Atlanta's clean air efforts," said Hewatt.  "We are honored that Ford Motor
Company is presenting us with a natural gas-powered Expedition."
    Through the natural gas vehicle (NGV) Expedition demonstration program,
Ford hopes to build and enhance customer interest in natural gas sport utility
vehicles in order to determine if they should be put into production.
    The Expedition is Ford's third full-size dedicated natural gas light
truck.  NGV versions of the F-250 pickup and Econoline van are already on
sale.  All three trucks meet California's strict SULEV emissions standard and
are among the cleanest vehicles in the world in terms of tailpipe emissions.
    Ford achieves the extremely low tailpipe emission levels by pairing the
clean-burning characteristics of natural gas with a Ford-patented advanced
catalyst system and unique engine control strategy.
    The patented emission control system features a small gas "conditioning"
catalyst that works in tandem with electronic engine controls to decrease
pollutants to levels never before attained with vehicles of this size.  The
Ford engineers who developed this system were named national Distinguished
Inventors for 1998.
    The natural gas Expedition is just the latest addition to Ford's "Clean
Utility Vehicle" fleet.  All 1999 model year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury
gasoline-powered sport utility vehicles and the Windstar Minivan will meet Low
Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards.  Not only will these vehicles beat federal
emissions standards for trucks, they will be cleaner than most passenger cars
on the road today.
    Ford has been selling the Ranger Electric Vehicle since 1998.  The Ranger
EV is targeted at government, utility, and private fleets with applications
for a limited-range work vehicle.