I wrote an email to several auto manufacturers regarding their lawsuit against California's latest greenhouse gas emissions law:
As an industry you have resisted law after law that does not immediately provide an increase to your profits, from seat belts to increased fuel efficiency standards. Please take a moment to consider yourselves human beings that must survive not only from corporate profits but from the preservation of humanity itself. After all, in the future you will need some humans left to purchase your products in order to continue to make those profits that you seek.
Read more at Environmental Defense.
Ford wrote me back!
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company. We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.
Climate change is a critical issue for Ford Motor Company, and we have acknowledged the potentially serious consequences of climate change. Ford Motor Company is committed to improving fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across our range of vehicles. Ford Motor Company remains committed to creating a better world. A better world isn't just nice to do. It's a key element of our strategy for the future. Our vision is transportation that is affordable in every sense of the word socially and environmentally, as well as economically. We will also continue working on innovative policy approaches that encourage the development of advanced technologies and lessen greenhouse gas emissions.
We have taken product actions across our business to address the climate change issue. The new Ford Escape Hybrid on sale now in dealer showrooms is the cleanest, most fuel efficient SUV in the world. It uses a combination of gasoline and electric power to deliver more than 35 miles per gallon in city driving without compromising versatility or performance. The hybrid system also meets the strictest emissions standards. And we are responding to the tremendous demand for hybrids by announcing plans for four more hybrid vehicles during the next three years (Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute, Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan.)
Additionally, we will sell four Partially Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV) models in 2005, including the Focus, Escape Hybrid, Ford Fusion I-4 and Mercury Milan I-4. PZEVs generate zero gasoline evaporative emissions plus super ultra low emissions vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe emissions standards.
Moreover, Ford is the only automaker actively engaged in the development of four promising future alternatives to today's gasoline engines: gasoline-electric hybrids, clean diesels, hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV).
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your vehicle, please feel free to contact us at one of the following numbers:
1-800-392-3673 (Ford/Mercury)
1-800-521-4140 (Lincoln)
1-800-232-5952 (TDD for the Hearing Impaired)
Customer Service Representatives are available for telephone contact between the hours of 8AM to 8PM (Monday-Friday) and 9AM to 5:30PM (Saturday), Eastern Standard Time.
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.
Sincerely,
Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center