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Ford's Initiatives for the Environment

As the global warming threat becomesproducing 1.3 million of these six-speed
increasingly known to the global community,transmissions which will be offered for two
public awareness has propelled differentout  of the three cars that they will market.
industries to protect the environment before
it is too late. The auto industry hasFord is also the first to use clean diesel
started developing newer technology to maketechnology for their heavy-duty pickup class
vehicles more environment-friendly. Carvehicles. The 2008 Super Duty is Ford's
companies known for producing gas-guzzlinganswer to the stricter emission standards set
vehicles have been forced to produce smallerby countries around the world. The
and  more  fuel  efficient  vehicles.heavy-duty truck is equipped with a 6.4-liter
PowerStroke engine which is dubbed as clean
From hybrid electric technology to fullas gasoline powered engines. This
electric car technology to alternative fuels,environment friendliness does not sacrifice
car manufacturers have been pouring in theirpower as the engine is rated to produce 350
funds so as to develop a new technology whichhorsepower and 650 ft-lb of torque. This is
will reduce the global community'sanother evidence of Ford's commitment to
consumption of petroleum fuels therebydevelop vehicles with the environment in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One ofmind.
the leading car manufacturers in terms of
going  "green"  is  the  Ford  Motor Company.Another step taken by Ford towards the
protection of the environment is the
The Dearborn, Michigan-based car manufacturertransformation of paint fumes too usable
not only uses alternative fuel technology tofuel. At Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in
protect the environment but has also takenWayne, the company uses a Fumes-to-Fuel
green steps in other areas like productionsystem where the paint fumes are incinerated.
and recycling as part of their environmentalThe process not only eliminates the volatile
protection campaign. One of Ford'sorganic compounds found on these fumes but it
environment protection related initiatives isalso, at the same time, produces electricity
the use of sustainable fabric. One of thethat could still power the facility. This
newest redesigned automobiles from Ford, theprocess is used in the plant where the Ford
2008 Escape, is reportedly the first U.S.Expedition and Lincoln Navigator are
vehicle to use 100 percent recycled materialassembled.
for  its  fabric  seating  exterior.
Aside from this paint fume technology, Ford
The fabrics used for the 2008 Escape's seatsalso uses the flex-fuel technology in their
are produced for Ford by Interface Fabricsdedication to protect the environment. This
Inc. These fabrics are made out ofis evident in the 2008 Crown Victoria
post-industrial waste or those materials usedInterceptor which will be sued by law
for some purpose that is intended forenforcement agencies. The said police cars
consumer use but did not make it to theare designed to run either on gasoline or on
market. Examples of these are plastic bottlea combination of gasoline and bio-ethanol or
caps and waste polyester fabrics. TheseE85.
materials undergo a process where they are
turned into yarn so as to be used as fabricsAside from Ford vehicles using clean engine
for the seats of the 2008 Escape. With thetechnology, the company has also invested in
use of these recycled materials, it isthe preservation and grooming of the natural
estimated that Ford has conserved 600,000environment surrounding their facilities in
gallons of water and eliminated the emissionDearborn and Allen Park in Michigan. Ford's
of 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide.efforts include the maintenance of fields
That sure is far more impressive than awhere flora and fauna abound. The company
vehicle with a clean engine and a Borladesignated "Grow Zones" which are dedicated
exhaust  to  match.to the preservation of wildlife habitat among
others.
Another environmental friendly initiative
that Ford has taken is the use of six-speedWhen talking about the surrounding of a Ford
automatic transmissions which reduces fuelfacility, their River Rouge assembly facility
consumption significantly. These gear boxesactually sports a "living roof". The roof of
are proven to reduce fuel consumption by asthe said facility which covers about 10 acres
much as 7 percent on high-speed driving asis covered with Sedum plants which filters
compared to a four-speed transmission. Therainwater and converts carbon dioxide to
Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands combine tooxygen. The facility also harnesses solar
offer fifteen models which are offered withenergy which it uses to provide the plant
the fuel saving six-speed transmission. Bywith additional energy and heated water.
the year 2008, Ford expects that they will be



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