United States
In the United States, we are in the third year of phasing in the most comprehensive and complex set of vehicle emissions requirements in the world, the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 regulations. These light-duty vehicle regulations align with California's LEV II emissions standards in terms of stringency.
We supported the EPA's development of the comprehensive Tier 2 emissions program because it was designed for states outside of California and will produce clean-air benefits equivalent to California's LEV II approach. Tier 2 is also a more cost-effective and flexible approach than the California program. We do not support the state-by-state adoption of the California standards.
Under Tier 2, all passenger car and small truck fleets must achieve fleet average NOx emissions equivalent to the Bin 5 level by 2007 model year. (The Tier 2 regulations allow manufacturers to choose from a range of eight emissions levels, or "Bins," to meet a fleet average requirement.) The Tier 2 program coordinates the introduction of cleaner fuels with more stringent vehicle tailpipe emissions standards and will achieve near-zero emissions from cars and light trucks. On a similar timeframe (i.e., by the 2005 to 2007 model years), California's separate standards will tighten under their LEVII (Low-Emission Vehicle) program.
The results from these programs are impressive. We have continued to significantly cut smog-forming (non-CO2) tailpipe emissions from our vehicles. In fact, Ford has completed the first phase of meeting the Tier 2 requirements, which eliminated nearly 3 million pounds of smog-forming emissions from our light-duty fleet over the 2004 to 2006 model years.
We also introduced cleaner heavier trucks two years ahead of the requirements. For example, the 2006 Ford Explorer with V-6 single-overhead-cam uses innovative technology to achieve a 30 percent cleaner vehicle than the EPA's final fleet average requirement. These technologies, which reduced smog-forming emissions by 74 percent compared to the previous model year Explorer, are also available on the Ford Sport Trac and Mercury Mountaineer.
For the California market, we have introduced new mid-size cars from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury that are capable of meeting some of the toughest emissions standards in the United States. The standard four-cylinder (Duratec 23 I-4) engine with automatic transmission used on the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan is rated as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) in states that have adopted California's emissions regulations.
PZEVs are associated with very low vehicle emissions. They have been defined as vehicles producing emissions levels that a power plant would emit in order to generate the electricity to recharge an electric vehicle. Strictly speaking, PZEVs:
- meet California's Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle exhaust emissions standard (SULEV II)
- produce virtually no fuel system evaporative emissions
In practical terms, a PZEV, operated over three weeks of average driving, emits less smog-forming emissions than a new lawn mower operating for about 30 minutes. Or, for those who like to barbeque, grilling one quarter-pound burger emits more smog-forming emissions than a 60-mile commute in a PZEV.
In 2006, Ford's brands certified more PZEV models than any of our competitors. Models meeting these very stringent requirements in 2006 included the Ford Focus and Escape Hybrid, the Mercury Mariner and Milan, the Mazda3, Mazda6 and Tribute Hybrid, and the Volvo V70.
Information about the performance of all Ford vehicles sold in the United States can be found at http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/index.htm.
Europe
Improving air quality by reducing vehicle emissions has always been – and will continue to be – a major element of Ford's overall environmental commitment. Since 1990, emissions have been reduced by up to 90 percent via the development of improved engine technologies (specifically diesel engines) and high-tech exhaust gas treatment devices. Ford of Europe has introduced several diesel particulate filter systems for an increasing number of its new vehicles, as well as for older diesel-powered Ford vehicles already in customers' hands.
To illustrate the dramatic reduction in emissions, it would take up to 200 of today's Ford Fiestas to produce the same amount of emissions as one 1976 Ford Fiesta.
Further air-quality improvements will occur as Euro 4-technology-equipped vehicles increasingly penetrate the vehicle fleet on the road. (All new passenger cars registered as of January 1, 2006, and all light-duty vehicles as of January 1, 2007, must comply with the more stringent Euro 4 emission standard.)
