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View Full Version : Ford 'PZEV' Badging Helps Consumers Choose to Drive Green


xcel
08-28-2006, 06:55 PM
Ford Focus PZEV is the only vehicle of its kind with fuel economy of up to 37 miles/gallon and a 5 year/100,000 mile powertrain Extended Service Plan standard. (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060828/dem028.html?.v=44)

YaHoo Finance - August 28, 2006

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Ford_Focus_PZEV.jpg
2007 Ford Focus PZEV - EPA rated 27/37 w/ a manual.

To raise public awareness of Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV) as the cleanest emissions standard available in mass market vehicles, Ford Motor Company announces a 'PZEV' badging initiative in California for the highly popular Ford Focus car line.

The 2007 Ford Focus PZEV is an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle that meets the same emissions standards as the best hybrids.
The 2007 Ford Focus PZEV delivers up to 37 miles per gallon, and is available in a variety of body styles and transmission choices.
Ford Motor Company is the PZEV leader in California, offering the most models with PZEV certification, including vehicles from Ford, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda.
LOS ANGELES, All 2007 Ford Focus models sold in California with the 2.0-liter Duratec 20E engine will now bear a new Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) badge on the rear of each car to help educate the public about Ford's clean air choices. The 2.0-liter Duratec 20E engine accounts for approximately 97 percent of Focus sales in the state.

"A majority of the public is under the impression that hybrids are the only answer to a cleaner environment and high gas prices," said Hal Dewsnap, General Manager of Ford Lincoln Mercury California Market, "yet the Focus is a smart alternative because it meets the same PZEV emissions standard as the best hybrids such as our Ford Escape Hybrid, it delivers great fuel-economy and it is very affordable."

A vehicle must meet three stringent criteria set by the California Air Resources Board to be PZEV-certified: Its tailpipe emissions must meet the Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard, which is over 80% cleaner with respect to smog-forming emissions than the average 2007 model year vehicle; it must produce zero gasoline evaporative emissions, virtually eliminating the escape of fuel vapor from the vehicle's fuel system - a major source of smog-forming emissions; and the manufacturer must provide warranty coverage to ensure that the vehicle will meet PZEV requirements for an extended lifetime of 15 years or 150,000 miles.

"Hybrids are widely recognized by the public, but not all hybrids meet PZEV standards, and some non-hybrid PZEV vehicles such as the Ford Focus are consequently cleaner," said Jerry Martin, Director of Communications for the California Air Resources Board. "PZEV-certified vehicles are the cleanest mass-produced vehicles available and represent the most attainable avenue to improve air quality because they are generally more affordable. It is encouraging to see Ford take this step in raising the level of awareness of its benefits."

The Focus' badge will feature Ford's "green-leaf highway" icon followed by the prominent letters PZEV over the words "Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle." This resembles the badge on Ford's hybrid vehicles and reinforces that the Focus is a "green" car that meets tailpipe and evaporative emissions standards equivalent to the best hybrid vehicles.

"Our 'road and leaf' logo is a status symbol for Ford hybrid owners, and we are confident that it will also be a badge of pride for Ford Focus owners who can point to the wisdom of their purchase decision," stated Dewsnap. "It's not just about selling more Focus models. The PZEV badge says its owner is making a significant contribution to reducing emissions. As the PZEV badge appears on thousands of Focuses across the state, we also hope to raise public awareness of what PZEV is and why it should be sought out by consumers. We offer PZEV on other cars, including the 4-cylinder automatic transmission models of the new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, but the Focus is our highest volume PZEV car and we have chosen it as a billboard to raise awareness of PZEV."

The PZEV Focus has a base price of $14,075 and comes in four body styles to fit differing lifestyles: three-door or five-door hatchback, sedan and wagon. It features a super-clean 130-horsepower engine that is cleaner and more fuel-efficient than some of the competition's hybrid gas-electric vehicles. For further peace of mind, the 2007 Ford Focus comes standard with a 5 year/100,000 mile powertrain Extended Service Plan warranty in addition to the 15 year/150,000 mile warranty on its emissions system.

The California Air Resources Board estimates there are roughly 500,000 certified PZEV's on California roads today. Ford has sold 90,000 Focus PZEVs in California since its debut in 2003.

PZEV Facts


Grilling one hamburger emits more hydrocarbon emissions than a Focus PZEV would on a three hour drive (about 180 miles).
A Focus PZEV would have to be driven more than 2,100 miles, or five trips between Los Angeles and San Francisco, to equal the emissions produced by the leading 5.4 horsepower lawn mower in just one hour of use.
The Focus PZEV is so clean, it would take 330 of them running at the same time to equal the smog-forming emissions of one typical 1971 car, the first California emission controlled vehicle.
Focus Value

Ford Focus PZEV produces the same low level of smog-forming emissions as the top selling hybrid car for about half the price.
Ford Focus PZEV is the only vehicle of its kind with fuel economy of up to 37 miles per gallon and a 5 year/100,000 mile powertrain Extended Service Plan standard.
The 2007 PZEV 2.0-liter manual transmission Focus increased its estimated highway fuel-economy by 3 miles per gallon over the 2006 model.
Ford Motor Company is the PZEV leader in California, offering the most models with PZEV certification, including vehicles from Ford, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda.
Ford Focus PZEV is a smart choice for an affordable "green" vehicle. Visit http://www.fordvehicles.com for information on pricing and incentives.

AshenGrey
08-28-2006, 07:50 PM
Even if Ford is behind Toyota and Honda in terms of hybrids, it's good to see that they're willing to engineer clean-burning vehicles that are efficient, affordable, and compact.

xcel
08-28-2006, 10:51 PM
Hi Chris:

___I can be Ford’s largest cheerleader and their biggest critic (sometimes within the same paragraph ;)) as I come from a family that has owned Ford’s all my life. Add to it that they are a truly an American Car company no matter how much we here of outsourcing and such. All you need to do is look at the domestics total US payroll or employees actually working here in the states and compare to any of the foreign sourced automobiles to find out the real story. Outsourcing however will be a way of life for another thread …

___Either way, I wish Ford would make the 2.0e std. to the entire country given the entire country has access to LS fuel and this was the only thing holding back the PZEV from its extremely clean exhaust in the 45 non-clean states … With that, there is a small upcharge for the MAF and more robust CAT but in the Accord, it is all of ~ $150.00. I have the feeling it is a similar upcharge in the PZEV based Focus/Fusion/Milan. Is ¾ to 1% of the car’s total cost worth it to have PZEV based emissions vs. LEV-2 based one’s? In the 45 non-clean fuel states (they all have required clean fuel now), the 150,000 mile PZEV warranties are not in effect even if you purchased a PZEV in one of the 5 clean states so there is no increased upcharge to Ford for warranty extension. Just the fact that an entire fleet of vehicles could be deemed PZEV’s makes sense. In fact, there was a time back in I believe 03 when all the 2.3 based Focus’ were PZEV’s and I would like to see a return to that policy given the slightest of upcharges in doing so …

___Now about that next gen Focus … First off, we need it yesterday. We need the Euro focus/Mazda 3 underpinnings right now (darn thing is ancient compared to the comp it is up against), we need a Mazda head redesign for the 2.0e with an Atkinson like low speed lobe like the std. Civic 1.8’s with two other modes for mid and high range power/torque, and we need a more aerodynamic package for even higher real world fuel economy at highway speeds. That 2.3 in the Ranger is such a good motor and the Focus’ lighter weight and balance shafts make it much smoother and even quicker w/ the 2.0e! Just imagine what those upgrades could do to the B-Class sized sub and compact market today given the Focus’ already larger size then any of its competitors. Because this current Focus is based on the aging platform that for all intents and purposes should have been discarded 3 years ago, those 3 extra mpg’s only get it into the game but it is far from the top of it where the brand new 8th gen Civic and even the 03 – 07 Corolla stand today :(

___I am not even going to get into the TCO’s of the poor things but it sounds like Ford is going after inventory in a big way and thus should at least slow the fall vs. what they have done in the past …

___Good Luck

___Wayne

cam9264
08-03-2008, 11:41 AM
I bought mine for price and mpg (i am a ford fanatic), it was the best mpg i could afford, i didn't even know what pzev ment . did better on this purchace then i thought burning 38% less gas and much lower emmissions :)

jamesqf
08-03-2008, 02:23 PM
But they've still got a basic conceptual problem when they try to sell 37 mpg as "fuel efficient".



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