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Transportation equipment industry

WTO Delegates to Reduce Emissions with Clean-Burning Natural Gas Vehicles

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Delegates attending next week's World Trade Organization conference in Seattle will reduce vehicle emissions with the operation of 55 new Ford Motor Company natural gas vehicles, unveiled at the Pier 48 ferry terminal on November 22nd. The vehicles, designed for use by WTO delegates, will exclusively run on Puget Sound Energy's clean-burning natural gas, cutting overall tailpipe emissions by up to 80% and carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 90%. Natural gas used as a vehicle fuel is a designated alternative fuel under the National Energy Policy Act and satisfies all federal Clean Air Act requirements for emissions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 55 new Ford Motor Company natural gas vehicles will operate exclusively on Puget Sound Energy's clean-burning natural gas during the WTO conference.
  • The vehicles will cut overall tailpipe emissions by up to 80% and reduce emissions of carbon monoxide by as much as 90%.
  • Natural gas used as a vehicle fuel satisfies all federal Clean Air Act requirements for emissions and is a designated alternative fuel under the National Energy Policy Act.
  • The vehicles will refuel at Seattle-area compressed natural gas stations operated by Puget Sound Energy and the City of Seattle.
  • Denis McLerran, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and representatives of the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition were present at the unveiling event.
  • The 55 natural gas vehicles will be available for sale after the WTO conference, pushing the number of NGVs operating in the Puget Sound region to more than 1,000.
  • Natural gas vehicles operating in the region have comparable gas mileage to gasoline-powered cars and enjoy a low fuel cost, averaging 80 cents GGE.

Statistics:

  • 55 new Ford Motor Company natural gas vehicles will be used during the WTO conference.
  • 50 of the vehicles are Crown Victoria sedans and 5 are Econoline vans.
  • The vehicles will burn nearly 5,000 gasoline gallons-equivalent (GGE) of natural gas during the conference week.
  • Natural gas used as a vehicle fuel cuts overall tailpipe emissions by up to 80% and reduces emissions of carbon monoxide by as much as 90%.
  • The number of NGVs operating in the Puget Sound region is expected to exceed 1,000 after the sale of the 55 natural gas vehicles.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, November 22, 1999
  • Puget Sound Energy press release, November 22, 1999

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