Archive for June, 2009

FORD’S 10TH ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT DETAILS PROGRESS ON BLUEPRINT FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Field of sunflowers

Ford Motor Company’s 10th annual Sustainability Report released today provides a comprehensive look at the company’s progress on environmental and social issues over the past year.

The 2008/2009 reported entitled “Blueprint for Sustainability: Our Future Works” updates the company’s progress in key areas of climate change, fuel economy, mobility, vehicle safety and human rights.

The full report is now available online at www.ford.com/go/sustainability. In the interest of the environment and as a cost saving measure, Ford elected not to do a traditional print version of the report.

On Climate Change
Ford remains on track to reach its goal to reduce by 30 percent the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of its new U.S. and European vehicles by 2020, compared to the 2006 model year. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to its climate change strategy, click here.

On Fuel Economy
Ford is committed to make all of its new vehicles either best in class or among the best in class in fuel economy. All of its North American 2010 model year vehicles and many 2009 model year vehicles meet this commitment. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to delivering fuel efficient technologies to millions, click here.

On Electrification
Ford is accelerating the development of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV), which it will introduce in North America from 2010 to 2012. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to electric vehicles, click here.

On Mobility
With the rise of mega-cities around the world – urban areas of 5 million to 10 million people or more – Ford is working on sustainable mobility solutions that reduce personal transportation’s environmental and social impacts. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to new mobility solutions, click here.

On Human Rights
For several years Ford facilities and those of its joint-venture companies and suppliers have operated under the Ford Code of Basic Working Conditions, which requires products to be manufactured under conditions that demonstrate respect for the people who make them. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to human rights, click here.

On Vehicle Safety
Ford Motor Company holds more Top Safety Pick ratings (awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS)) than any other automaker and more U.S. government 5-star-rated vehicles than any brand. To learn more about Ford’s commitment to vehicle safety, click here.

On Sustaining Ford
Over the past several years, Ford has undertaken a fundamental restructuring of its operations that affects every part of its business, from product innovation and fuel efficiency to labor relations and its interactions with suppliers and dealers. To learn more about Ford’s plan to return to profitability, click here.

QUOTES

“Our economic and environmental goals are aligned. In fact, we believe that the best way for us to be more profitable is to make our business and products more sustainable.” – Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company

“We recognize these issues are increasingly important to our stakeholders, including our customers, investors and business partners. We want them to understand that we will continue to pursue our sustainability agenda despite very challenging economic conditions.”
– Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

“Ford’s reporting has benefited greatly from open and honest dialogue with shareholders, environmental organizations and other key stakeholders regarding a variety of sustainability issues, including global climate change and good governance practices.” – Carol Lee Rawn, senior manager of the Transportation Program at Ceres, who led the Ceres stakeholder team that advised Ford on its Sustainability Report

Comments Off

Ford Escape Hybrids Help Save Lives, Conserve Fuel, Protect Air Quality on Los Angeles Beaches

L.A. Lifeguard Escape Hybrid For the past year the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service, a division of the fire department, has used a fleet of 2009 Ford Escape Hybrids to help save lives while reducing fuel consumption and protecting the environment. During the first 11 months of service, Escape Hybrids have played a crucial part in thousands of rescues and more than a million rescue preventions at L.A. County beaches. Seaside Escapes More than 58 million people visit Los Angeles’ sandy beaches every year, and the number is going up. Public safety is the primary concern of Los Angeles County lifeguards, who use a fleet of 45 customized Escape Hybrids to patrol 72 miles of coastline. After nearly a year of beach patrol, L.A. County lifeguards and officials say the Escape Hybrids have been valuable tools in efforts ranging from saving injured surfers to moving swimmers out of rip currents to reuniting lost children with their parents. Escape Hybrids have become critical tools for the lifeguards stationed in Malibu, for example. Last October, they used three Escape Hybrids and an F-350 in the rescue of two men involved in a single-engine plane crash near the Malibu Pier. In January 2009, lifeguards used an Escape Hybrid to tow a wave runner into position to launch a rescue of a capsized kayaker who was at risk of hypothermia. Two months later, lifeguards patrolling in an Escape Hybrid were in the right place at the right time to rescue a surfer who had been knocked unconscious in the water and was in danger of drowning. Geared Up The customized Escape Hybrids enable L.A.’s lifeguards to efficiently stow rescue gear and protect it from the elements, said Fernando Boiteux, the department’s northern section chief. Based on input from the lifeguards, Ford designers removed 60 percent of the rear seat on the driver’s side and replaced it with a rescue equipment storage unit – an aluminum box with specially designated spaces for important emergency equipment, such as defibrillators, trauma boxes and oxygen tanks. The remaining 40 percent of the seat was left intact in case the lifeguards had to transport someone, such as a lost child. Ford designers also outfitted the Escape Hybrids with a custom-fit roof rack for the lifeguards’ paddle board and spine boards. The vehicles were painted a vibrant yellow – iconic for lifeguards – and then detailed with authoritative graphics and finished off with dark wheels. The lifeguards said their Escape Hybrids offer excellent visibility, a significant safety plus on the beach, and that the four-wheel drive feature enables them to navigate the sandy terrain without getting stuck and make more precise turns. Protect and Conserve In addition to saving lives, the Escape Hybrid fleet enabled L.A. lifeguards to reduce their entire fleet’s fuel usage by 25 percent – more than 5,000 gallons of gas – during the first six months of service despite increased driving due to 20 percent higher beach attendance than the previous year. The fuel cost savings has helped L.A. County to maintain its critical front line staffing despite the economic downturn. The lifeguards use four-wheel-drive Escape Hybrids, which deliver outstanding fuel economy of 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway; also available is the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid – the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet – which is delivers 34 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. The lifeguards also use six F-350s and two F-250s along with other specialized vehicles. In addition to fuel savings, the lifeguards reduced their fleet’s emissions by approximately 97,500 lbs. (44,250 kg) of CO2 during the first half year of service. The Escape Hybrid is one of the cleanest vehicles available today, meeting California’s strict Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standard. Safety and Technology Advances The 2010 Escape and Escape Hybrid, which arrive in showrooms this summer, add five new features that can help improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle. The new Escapes will add MyKey™ teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. The new model also will be North America’s first SUV to offer Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. The new technologies build on Escape’s unsurpassed crash ratings – a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-star government ratings in all crash tests. The Escape, which Kelley Blue Book editors recently named one of the “2009 Best New Family Vehicles,” also is the only compact SUV to offer standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) and a standard Safety Canopy® side curtain air-bag system. QUOTES “When we partnered with the L.A. County lifeguards we knew the Escape Hybrid would serve them well by providing clean, fuel-efficient transportation with a high degree of utility and durability. Now, we’re absolutely thrilled to know the fleet has been a reliable tool in so many lifesaving efforts.” – David Finnegan, Ford Hybrids Marketing Manager “Our philosophy in LA County is to be proactive and prevent rescues before they happen. Mitigating hazardous conditions is the prime reason for our amazing safety record. Our Ford fleet of Escape Hybrids is an integral part of our entire lifeguard operation – we’re saving lives and the environment.” – Mike Frazier, Chief Lifeguard, Los Angeles County Fire Department “Not only does the Escape Hybrid play a key role in our lifeguard rescue activities, it also is one of the cleanest vehicles available today, releasing fewer emissions into the atmosphere during a three-hour drive than grilling one hamburger in your backyard.” – Dusty Crane, Chief of Community and Marketing Services Division at the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Comments Off