DEARBORN, MI — The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) designated 16 Ford brand vehicles as some of the most environmentally friendly on the market today in its annual Green Book online consumer guide. Ford’s Escape Hybrid SUV is the first gas-powered SUV to rank among the ACEEEs top 12 environmental vehicle choices. In addition to the Escape Hybrid, the following Ford models were recognized for fuel efficiency and low tailpipe emissions: Mazda MX-5, Mazda Miata, Ford Focus Sedan, Ford Focus Wagon, Mazda3, Volvo V50, Volvo V70, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, E-150 Econoline van, Ford Ranger, Mazda B2300, Ford F-150, Mazda Tribute, and Ford Freestyle. ACEEE annually assigns a "green score" to passenger car, truck and SUV based on tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, vehicle weight, and emission of greenhouse gases during vehicle production. The organization’s Green Book is considered a preeminent environmental buying guide and identifies the overall top environmental choices as well as top choices by class. The Ford Escape Hybrid is a full-hybrid sport/utility vehicle. The Escape Hybrid runs on its gasoline engine, electric battery power, or both together. It has earned the highest fuel economy numbers for an SUV as certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – the front-wheel-drive model achieves 36 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The Ford Escape Hybrid was recently named "North American Truck of the Year" by a panel of journalists from the United States and Canada. The Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Montego are all-new additions. Several Ford vehicles cited by ACEEE, including the Escape Hybrid, Focus Sedan and Wagon and Mazda3, are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) under California emission standards. To earn California PZEV certification, a vehicle must meet three separate criteria. First, it must have tailpipe emissions that meet the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards. It must demonstrate "zero" gasoline evaporative emissions, virtually eliminating evaporative emissions from the vehicle’s fuel system. It also must provide warranty coverage to ensure that the vehicle will meet these requirements for an extended lifetime of 15 years or 150,000 miles.