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Ford Declares a Clean Revolution

16 June 1999

Ford Declares a Clean Revolution

    AACHEN, Germany, June 15 -- After inviting German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder to drive the zero emission Ford P2000 HFC fuel cell car,
Ford Motor Company Chairman William Clay Ford Jr. today declared
Ford would be a leader in the "Clean Revolution."
    "While my great-grandfather was a leader in the first industrial
revolution, I want Ford Motor Company to be a leader in the second industrial
revolution -- the Clean Revolution," said Mr. Ford at the opening of Ford's
new $35 million European advanced research centre, the Ford Forschungszentrum
Aachen (FFA).
    "To achieve his vision, Henry Ford had declared customers could have
whatever color they wanted, as long as it was black.  To achieve my vision, I
am declaring customers can have any vehicle they want, as long as it is
green."
    Mr. Ford committed Ford Motor Company to offering European consumers the
widest range of environmentally friendly alternative fuel vehicle
technologies, including bi-fuel, electric and fuel cell vehicles, as soon as
possible.
    Before the end of this year Ford will offer consumers production bi-fuel
versions of the Ford Focus, Mondeo and Transit, and the first volume-built
European electric city car, the innovative TH!NK.  A production feasible fuel
cell vehicle would be made available for Europe by 2004.
    All these alternative fuel vehicles offer significant environmental
benefits.  For example, the direct hydrogen fueled P2000 HFC fuel cell car
driven by Chancellor Schroeder at the FFA opening is a zero emissions vehicle,
as is the electric TH!NK, which will be made available through a unique,
customer driven service and distribution initiative developed by Ford.
    The bi-fuel Focus, Mondeo and Transit models, which run on either
compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), offer
reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 20 per cent, as well as significant
reductions in other pollutants.
    However, Mr. Ford called on European governments to introduce harmonized
incentives and standards throughout the European Union to assist the rapid
introduction of environmentally friendly alternative fuel vehicles.
    Variations in tax and other incentives across the EU mean there are
significant differences in alternative fuel vehicle market growth and
resultant infrastructure investment from country to country.  As a result,
there is currently no commercially viable refueling or recharging network for
any bi-fuel, electric or fuel cell vehicles across the EU.
    "There is no point in offering technology that sits unused in the
showroom," said Mr. Ford.  "We must create the best conditions for the
widespread market entry of alternative fuel vehicles in Europe.  This is where
governments can help."
    Mr. Ford also said offering consumers who bought or operated alternative
fuel vehicles tax breaks or other financial incentives was a logical and low
cost method of speeding up market acceptance of environmentally friendly
technologies.  "The German government already offers incentives to consumers
who buy one of our vehicles with a low emissions engine, and will continue
this strategy when we begin to roll out our more sophisticated Stage IV low
emissions powertrains early next year," said Mr. Ford.  "It's a strategy that
makes a lot of sense."