My Dad has been driving his 1994 Toyota Previa Van for about 10+ years now, and it only gets 18mpg. After 150,000 miles, I think it’s time he gets a new car. Wondering what he should do with his old “clunker?” Well President Obama is lookin’ out for people like my dad, and today he signed the much-anticipated federal “Cash for Clunkers” program. It gives new car buyers and leasers a $3500-$4500 voucher, a potential down payment; they can use toward buying a new car/truck/SUV that gets anywhere from 5 to 10mpg higher rating. The only stipulation is that the car you trade in cannot get a higher average mpg rating than 18mpg. The dealership has to then scrap that car. What a perfect time to buy a Ford! The program is said to go into effect, at the earliest, on July 24th. Many of Ford’s vehicles get an excellent fuel rating; including the Escape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid, which are both qualifying vehicles. Ford has designed a website where you can enter in all the specs of the “clunker” you’re driving now, and see if you qualify for the program and what cars you can get. That’s how I found out my Dad’s Previa qualified and he can get a new Escape. He’s on his way to buying a Ford, and hopefully the country will shortly follow suit.
Visit www.cars.gov/faq.html for all your “Cash for Clunkers” questions.
Then visit www.letfordrecycleyourride.com to see which new ford car you qualify for!
I really haven’t gotten into Twitter yet, but it seems like just about everyone else is jumping on board, even Senator John McCain! Coincidentally, he tweeted today about a getting a new car. What car might you ask? Well, he said "time to get a new car — decided on the Ford Fusion Hybrid." How cool is that! Senator McCain will be taking delivery of his new car in Washington today, the Detroit Free Press reported. He is replacing his current Cadillac CTS, in which he reportedly drives to work himself. The paper also said that the senator chose a silver Fusion with voice-activated navigation. I’m all for anyone wanting to reduce our carbon footprint and making a cleaner world for us to live in. Right on McCain!
UPDATE: President Obama and Senator McCain finally agree, Ford’s the way to go. President Obama has a Ford Hybrid back in his hometown of Chicago.
When I think of LA lifeguards, the first thing that comes to mind, as I’m sure for others too, is the iconic 90s TV show, Baywatch, where Pam Anderson and the cast strutted their stuff on the beach and pretended to “save lives.” However, I am pleased to learn that the real Baywatch lifeguards of LA county today are not only saving real lives, but are also helping to reduce our carbon footprint! An article from USA Today gave credit to Ford for helping reduce emissions in Los Angeles County. The county owns 45 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs for their Baywatch lifeguards. With a little help from some of the Escapes, they made 9,000 rescues over the past year. In the process, the hybrids cut the fleet’s fuel usage by 25%. That amounts to more than 5,000 gallons during the first six months of service, Ford says. Escape Hybrids have a fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon in the city and a 27 mpg on the highway. The SUVs cut carbon emissions, NOx emissions, and greenhouse gas emissions. I think I might just have to drive up to LA for the day to catch a glimpse of these “green” lifeguards in action.
It’s fantastic to hear that our neighbors to the north will be joining Ford’s efforts in fighting to reduce our carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Canada will be receiving their share of ROUSH® propane-powered trucks and vans soon enough. Canadian customers will be able to add ROUSH® propane-powered Ford F-250/F-350 pickups and E-Series vans to their fleets by this fall. Each ROUSH® model is expected to have all the necessary Transport Canada requirements, as well as meet all safety certifications. Canadian customers can either get a ROUSH® converted vehicle with a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty. The ROUSH® F-250 uses a 27-gallon under-bed propane tank for a range of about 225 miles, while the E-Series van is likely to use a 27-gallon tank with a range of 297 miles. Now we can blame Canada on helping save the Earth!
As Ford continues to educate the consumer and expand their horizons for the liquid propane injected trucks, we learned that Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., one of the nation’s largest propane distributors, will be among the first to add the ROUSH® Liquid Propane Injected Ford F-250 pickup truck to their alternative fuel fleet. How awesome is that! Ferrellgas President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Wambold will be taking the truck on a “Road Show” through the Midwest June 15th through the 18th. So, if you find yourself in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; or St. Louis, Mo. this coming June, take the opportunity to join in! News conferences will be conducted in each market to give media and consumers a preview of the new truck and help raise awareness about the environmental and economic advantages of using propane as a motor fuel. I know I want to take a road trip, who’s with me?
I love a good CARB but have a hard time getting my hands on any CARB that leaves me feeling good. Well this is a great CARB! The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved the ROUSH® propane powered conversion of the F150 Ford Pickup. Now America’s #1 selling vehicle got even more palatable. Is that possible? I want to eat this truck! The CARB approval gives ROUSH® thumbs up to put propane conversion kits in F150’s in every state. Soon the F250 and F350 will follow. Who knows where this will put Ford. Listen up, not all CARBS are bad!
This is awesome. N.C. Mobile Care sponsored the “Driving Clean and Green” tour at the McKimmon center. 60 green exhibitons and sponsors were available to show services and products. The F150 propane pickup and the new bi-fuel natural gas Focus were just a couple of the Ford vehicles that were proudly displayed. I would love to have checked out the E-85 ethanol passenger van, what a great idea for schools and van pools.
I want more money, who doesn’t? Fleet vehicle owners should open up their wallets and accept a generous hand out from federal and state governments while going green. With tax credits of up to $4,500 to help with the conversion cost and an additional 50 cent per gallon tax credit, driving propane saves some serious dough. By converting to propane you are lowering your operating costs by an estimated 40-50%. That is a great reason to head to Ken Grody Ford and purchase a new propane powered vehicle or conversion kit and then out to a steak dinner with all the money you will save.
Did you know Texas is the largest producer of propane gas? With 1,000 propane refueling stations located in the state they top the charts. Considering there are only 2,500 in the U.S., I’m putting on my boots and hat and filling my truck in Texas. Texas is leading the country by example. A new bill (HB 1467) was also introduced in Texas promoting the use of propane and other alternative fuels. I always did like Texas.
I am continually amazed at the advances of Ford Motor Company. The good ole’ boys back in Detroit are reducing their carbon footprint with the introduction of an alternative fuel option for your truck. By teaming up with ROUSH®, Ford is now offering a propane powered vehicle. What? Yes, it is incredibly true. Not Honda or Toyota but Ford. I think this is amazing. I have no desire to continue to support countries outside North America. With 90% of the propane consumed by the U.S. being domestically produced (an additional 7% comes from Canada) the jump towards the U.S. independence of foreign oil is visible.
I am a 24-year-old Huntington Beach, California, native and never once foresaw being a “Go Green” activist. I’ve always been interested in conservation and protecting the environment, but never really identified the means to pursue this effort. I am a performer at heart—one who prides myself on being adaptable to change and making a difference in the world, one small step at a time. But I haven’t been around long enough to see how technology has changed the world, and what I can do to improve it. I perceive the future as bright and full of possibilities and was privileged enough to be offered a position at Ken Grody Ford—a position that has provided me now with the vision and opportunity to make a real contribution to this movement— helping revolutionize how we as Americans view transportation today—as we “Go Green.” Ford has joined the “Go Green” movement and teamed up with ROUSH® Performance Engineering to bring alternative fuel vehicles, using LPI (Liquid Propane Injection) engines, to the fleet market. Thus far, Ford has introduced both the Fusion and Escape Hybrids. With these models, Ford has laid the foundation for Americans to stimulate the economy by “buying American,” as well as impact the environment by reducing our carbon footprint. What a home run! Now, ROUSH®, in conjunction with Ford, are ever more changing the consumer’s view of alternatively fueled vehicles with LPI F-series trucks and Econoline vans. Propane itself has an extremely positive impact on the environment. It is proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, NOx emissions, and carbon monoxide emissions. How cool is that?
I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to me and my cause. I am excited and enthused about the future of alternative fuels, and I invite you to follow me and my blog as I post regular updates on how Ford and ROUSH® are making a difference in this “Go Green” movement.
