Recent
announcements by both Ford and Chrysler will significantly increase production
of E85 flexible fuel vehicles. Ford Motor Company has announced that it plans to
build a 3.0 liter E85 Ranger pickup in model year 1999. The Ranger flexible fuel
vehicle will be among the 250,000 E85s Ford plans to produce as part of a four
year program to increase the number of E85 vehicles on the road. Ross Roberts,
Ford Motor Company Vice President, said, "We believe announcing our product
strategy early -- and phasing in our FFV introductions -- will help encourage
the expansion of the infrastructure."
Governor Branstad said, "I would
like to thank Ford Motor Company for their continued recognition of ethanol as
an outstanding form of alternative fuel and also recognize Ford for their
continuing leadership in the production of alternative fuel vehicles. The
expansion of the E85 vehicle line being offered by Ford restates the importance
of ethanol in the nation's efforts to develop domestic forms of transportation
fuel."
At the recent Coalition meeting in Overland Park, Kansas, Chrysler
announced its decision to offer the 1998 Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and
Chrysler Town & Country 3.3 liter minivans as flexible fuel vehicles capable
of using E85 fuel. "The introduction of our flexible- fuel minivan provides an
incentive for the growth of the ethanol infrastructure and is another example of
the versatility of our best-selling minivans," said Mike Clement, Manager of
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales and Marketing.
"An E85 minivan is exactly
what many of the fleet managers in the Midwest are looking for and we're pleased
that Chrysler is going to build enough of them at no additional cost to make
them the vehicle of choice to hundreds of fleets," Branstad said.
For more information about these vehicles contact your local dealer or
call: Ford at 1-800-ALT-FUEL Chrysler at
1-800-999-FLEET
