OTHER NEWS - Nov. 4, 1991

First Methanol Cars to Be Available to the Public: Officials of the California EnergyCommission, South Coast Air Quality Management District, General Motors Corp. and representatives of such potential fleet buyers as Coors Distributors, Pinkerton, General Telephone Electronics and Digital Equipment Co. will announce today the first production-line cars to use cleaner-burning alternative fuels that can be ordered by the ordinary driver. Part of Gov. Pete Wilson’s state energy plan, the “Drive Clean California” campaign will announce that 2,000 Chevrolet Luminas and 200 Ford Econoline vans that can use either methanol or gasoline can be ordered immediately, by either fleet owners or private drivers. Beginning in the third quarter of 1992, orders will be accepted for 2,500 1993-model year Ford Tauruses, which will also burn methanol. The first round of vehicles will cost about $2,000 more than comparable conventional models, but current state and local air-pollution control incentives would offset most of that cost.