Ford joins European Bio-Ethanol initiatives

. PROCURA (derived from "procurement") is a three-year project started in Utrecht (Netherlands). It follows the January 25 launch of the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) initiative in Stockholm (Sweden). Both projects, partly funded by the European Union, assist the market development of alternative fuels and vehicles. Through the establishment of large scale demonstration projects, the initiatives aim to provide a thorough understanding of the barriers and issues associated with the market penetration of alternative fuels and respective vehicle technologies in Europe. Project-members come from several areas, incl. the automotive and fuel industry, local and national government organizations, research institutions and fleet owners (public/private). BEST, which focuses on bio-ethanol, has pilot projects planned or underway with Ford vehicles in Ireland, the UK, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. PROCURA, which looks at bio-ethanol, bio-diesel and natural gas, is to establish test programs in Italy, Portugal, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands. “The outstanding success of bio-ethanol as a fuel and the performance of Ford's FFVs in Sweden is a prime example of what can be accomplished through co-operation and partnership between companies from different industries, local and national government and non-governmental organisations," said Wolfgang Schneider, vice president, Governmental and Environmental Affairs, Ford of Europe. "Only through concerted efforts will society be able to meet the complex challenge that sustainable development imposes on us. Ford views this not only as a challenge but also as a responsibility. This is why – amongst other things - we have decided to join the PROCURA and BEST initiatives," he added. Latest figures have revealed that more than 17,000 Ford Focus and Focus C-MAX Flexi-Fuel models have been sold in Sweden, which, in 2001, became the first European country to introduce FFVs. This accounts for 80 per cent of all Focus sales in Sweden. And demonstrating a real shift in thinking, nearly 40 per cent of all Ford sales in Sweden now are FFVs. Following this success in Sweden, Ford Focus Flexi-Fuel and Focus C-MAX Flexi-Fuel models are now on sale in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. The Focus Flexi-Fuel is also available in Austria and Ireland, and ready to be sold in France. Other countries are expected to follow. The Environmental Benefit Ford's FFVs are capable of running on a blend of so-called E85 (85% bio-ethanol and 15% petrol), petrol only, or any mix of both in one fuel tank, making them truly flexible, both in terms of the choice/availability of fuel and customer operation. The use of bio-ethanol, in combination with FFV technology, can lead to a 70 percent reduction in overall CO2 emissions compared to a traditional petrol engine. Bio-ethanol is a renewable fuel derived from plants (such as cereals, sugar beet, etc.) or biomass (such as wood waste). The primary environmental benefit is the reduction of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions – the main greenhouse gas thought to be responsible for global warming. When using biomass or plant based material to derive bio-ethanol fuel, the carbon cycle can, to large degree, be "closed-loop." The photosynthesis process of plants sees carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants, etc, during their growth only to be released as the bio-ethanol is used as fuel, with the released CO2 being absorbed through new plant growth again.TS