Bangkok--5 Apr--Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ford Thailand today witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the US-based Renewable Energy Institute International (REI International) to carry out collaborative research, development and demonstration projects on conversion of renewable biomass to energy, fuels and chemical feedstock.
Mr. Pravich Rattanapien, Minister of Science and Technology, chaired the MoU signing ceremony where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sakarindr Bhumkiratana, NSTDA’s Director, and Dr. Dennis Schuetzle, REI International’s President and a former Director of International Research and Technology, Ford Motor Company, signed the MoU.
Mr. Tom Brewer, President of Ford Thailand, said, “Renewable energy and fuels are the most sustainable solutions for today's Thailand economy. Being an agricultural country, Thailand has abundant farm produces which can be used as raw materials for producing renewable fuels like ethanol. Being able to produce these fuels domestically, the country will save significantly on foreign exchange for oil imports leading to a much healthier economy accompanied with the benefit of cleaner environment. The collaboration between NSTDA and REI International is a great beginning and we hope that the Government will further deepen this research effort to ensure that the country reaps the benefits of this technology in the future. Ford Thailand is willing to extend all the necessary assistance in promoting the development of alternative fuel and energy in the country.”
Ford Motor Company is a global leader in alternative fuel technology. The company’s commitment to alternative fuels has been noteworthy since 1908 when the Ford Model T arrived with a carburetor adjustment that allowed the vehicle to run on ethanol. Since then, Ford’s research and development of alternative fuel technology has been at the industry's forefront. Today, Ford Motor Company has more than one million flexible fuel vehicles running on the roads worldwide. Most recently, Ford debuted the Ford F-250 Super Chief concept truck, the world’s first tri-fuel vehicle that can run on benzene, gasohol E85 and hydrogen, at the North American International Auto Show early this year.
Mr. Liam Benham, Vice President, Asia-Pacific & Africa Governmental Affairs, Ford Motor Company, said, “Ford Motor Company feels honored to witness this important occasion which marks the beginning of a collaborative effort in renewable energy and fuel development between Thailand and a leading US research enterprise. In fact, we at Ford have always been firm believers in the sustainability of renewable energy and its suitability to Thailand's economy, evident through the launch of our flexible fuel vehicle — the Ford Focus and our active involvement in various ethanol related programs in the past. Back in 2000, when Dr. Schuetzle was the Director of International Research and Technology at Ford Motor Company, he organized workshops and coordinated international research and development efforts on the production and testing of ethanol-based fuel as well as biodiesel with various agencies including NSTDA and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). These programs were undertaken in collaboration with the Royal Chitralada Projects. We are happy that today he is back here in Thailand, as the President of REI International to further his mission of developing a viable energy solution for Thailand and to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.”
In Thailand, Ford has been supportive of the various Royal-sponsored projects related to alternative fuel research and development. In 2005, Ford launched the Ford Focus, the first flexible fuel vehicle in Thailand capable of running on benzene as well as mixes of ethanol up to 20%.
www.ford.co.th
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