Alternative fuel system increases in use across Europe.

At the Geneva Motor Show this week, Ford bosses have underlined their successes in introducing vehicles that use alternatives to oil-sourced fuels and their intention to increase sales of vehicles in these markets.

Ford is market leader for bio-ethanol vehicles in Europe with 17,000 Ford Flexi-Fuel vehicles (FFVs) sold in Sweden since 2001 and the Focus Flexi-Fuel now on sale in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Projects are running across Europe in co-operation with local authorities in Ireland, the UK, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands .

CEO Bill Ford has made a 'worldwide commitment to FFV technology' and the company expects FFV production of up to 250,000 units in North America this year - with the total number of ethanol-powered vehicles built by Ford in the past decade totalling more than 1,5 million globally.

There are a number of innovative pilot projects taking place in the UK too. Ford is working with potential fleet customers, bioethanol producers and fuel suppliers in the same area to trigger local interest. Somerset Biofuel Project participants will take delivery of its first Focus FFVs from April 2006. Similar negotiations are underway in Cornwall , Norfolk , Lincolnshire , Midlands and Wales . The Focus Flexi-Fuel was the first bio-ethanol powered car to be sold in the UK, and by the end of January 70 units had been supplied; a figure which is expected to rise quickly to more than 100.

Figures announced in Sweden have shown just how popular the Focus and Focus C-MAX Flexi-Fuel models are there. The 17,000 sold account for 80 per cent of all Focus sales in Sweden , and 80 per cent of all environmentally friendly cars sold in Sweden in 2004. And showing a real shift in thinking in Sweden , nearly 40 per cent of all Ford sales in Sweden now are FFVs.

Ford's FFVs are capable of running on a blend of so-called E85 (85% bio-ethanol and 15% petrol), on petrol only, or on any mix of both in one fuel tank, making them truly flexible, both in terms of the choice/availability of fuel and customer operation . The use of bio-ethanol, in combination with FFV technology, can lead to a 70 percent reduction in overall CO2 emissions compared to a traditional petrol engine.

Ford aims to break through the common problem of how to encourage consumers to adopt new vehicle technology before an adequate fuel infrastructure exists. Ford has asked other societal stakeholders to join and share in their responsibilities in a concerted effort to making mobility more sustainable.

“This effort depends on the political willingness to increase the use of bio-ethanol as a fuel for the transport sector, and on the fuel availability” said Wolfgang Schneider, vice president, Governmental and Environmental Affairs, Ford of Europe. "New societal challenges need new societal approaches and responses. The ongoing positive public resonance on Ford's efforts in the area of FFV technology demonstrates that we are on the right path.

Schneider added: “We consider FFV technology to be of critical importance to make mobility more sustainable and that is why Ford will continue to explore and support other bio-ethanol initiatives across the continent.”

It's the Swedish example that shows what can be accomplished through cooperation and partnership between companies from different industries (including fuel providers and distributors), as well as local and national government and non-governmental organizations (including fleet and private customer associations).

With these latest developments, Ford remains the pace-setter and leading car manufacturer for ethanol-powered vehicles in Europe . FFVs are part of Ford's broad portfolio of environmentally advanced vehicle technologies and its commitment to develop and offer them as an affordable alternative for our customers.

Bio-ethanol is a renewable fuel derived from plants (such as cereals, sugar beet etc.) or biomass (such as wood waste). The primary environmental benefit is the reduction of CO 2 (carbon dioxide) emissions – the main greenhouse gas thought to be responsible for global warming. When using biomass or plant based material to derive bio-ethanol fuel, the CO 2 circle can, to large degree, be "closed-loop." The photosynthesis process of plants sees carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants, etc during their growth only to be released as the bio-ethanol is used as fuel, with the released CO 2 being absorbed through new plant growth again.

In September 2005, Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford laid out his blueprint for the company's future, focusing every aspect of the business on innovation as its core strategy going forward. This includes a commitment to FFVs throughout Ford's global operations. In North America , four new vehicles for 2006 can run largely on ethanol, with an expected production of up to 250,000 FFV units in 2006 there.

In Thailand, Ford has only recently introduced a version of its successful Focus model capable of running on regular petrol as well as on a specific bio-ethanol/petrol blend offered in that market. In Brazil , FFV and dedicated bio-ethanol technology are already long established alternatives to conventional technologies.

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