Chicago Ford Dealer Helps Bring Cleaner Air to Chicago
Posted by:
Jackie Carey
According to the latest news from Ford Motor Company, the Transit Connect Taxis will begin winding their way through the streets of Chicago in March when a fleet of the alternative-fuel vehicles joins Yellow Cab Chicago. You heard correctly. Alternative-fuel taxis right here in sweet home Chicago!
This model of the Transit Connect has a clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. CNG engines run off of the same kind of gas that heats our homes and ignites many of our stoves and fireplaces. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CNG is less expensive and burns cleaner than gasoline. The end result is 30% - 40% less greenhouse gas emissions pumped into the environment.
"During product development of this vehicle, we visited cities across the U.S. speaking with taxi owners, operators, drivers and city officials on the key product attributes they wanted in a taxi," said Gerald Koss, Ford Fleet marketing manager. "Of course reliability and durability were key, but fuel-efficient powertrains and sustainable solutions also were high on their lists."
If you’re not already loving the thought of a greener Chicago, let me share with you the cherry on top of this sunday...the Transit Connect Taxis will be delivered to the cab company by one of our very own local dealers. Packey Webb Ford, of Downers Grove, Illinois, will drop of the vehicles with an engine prep package that allows the vehicles to convert to CNG.
"This is the first of its kind for Chicago," said John Webb of Packey Webb Ford. "NYC has already made steps with the Escape, but we're really excited that the Transit Connect ups the ante. It is roomier, it can be up-fitted for handicap accessibility and it takes a huge step toward a greener Chicago with CNG technology. What's better than breathing cleaner air?"
With this one move, Ford is both helping keep our Mag Mile magnificent and showing a little love to one of our favorite local Chicago business. Oh, and if you’ve been known to hail a taxi once in a while, you can also expect more passenger room and a safer ride as the Transit Connect offers new features for drivers such as the rear view camera
If you want to know more about the Transit Connect, you can check it out at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show in February or at the Vehicles on Display section of our Website.
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