Ford Motor Co.s  industry-leading lineup of fuel-efficient engines and alternative-fuel technologies for fleet customers willexpand next year when the all-new Ford Transit commercial van comes to market with a new clean diesel or an Ecoboost V6 engine. The new Transit will achieve at least 25 percent better fuel economy than current E-Series vans.
"With fleet operators facing skyrocketing fuel prices and constant pressure to reduce costs, Ford continues to expand its range," said Kevin Koswick, director, North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations for Ford. "By offering multiple options to help solve these challenges, Ford is giving fleet customers true power of choice in finding solutions that best meet their specific needs."
Speaking to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit , Koswick said Ford is committed to continuing to provide customers a range of options to reduce their operating costs through a lineup of industry-leading fuel-efficient engines and alternative-fuel technologies, including EcoBoost, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, biodiesel and CNG/LPG.
 To meet diverse needs in the full-size van segment, Ford has confirmed it will offer an all-new North American diesel engine option for the new Ford Transit cargo and passenger vans when production starts in Kansas City in 2013. This will be in addition to the fuel-efficient, powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine that is already winning raves from Ford F-150 customers.
Beyond providing fleet customers with a range of fuel-efficient engine choices for vans and other vehicles, Ford also has developed a specialized new tool to help optimize fleet purchases based on specific fuel types and operating locations.
The Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Cost Calculator utilizes such information as vehicle type, fuel type and traffic conditions (stop-and-go city traffic or on the highway, for instance), along with the geographic region in which the car will be used to generate information about the efficiency of a fleet. The proprietary program, which must be used in conjunction with the support of a Ford representative, will create customized scenarios for customers by using special formulas and variables to determine the environmental impact and fuel costs of specific vehicles.
"This tool will help our customers make the most informed purchase decision possible - one that will meet their business needs, help promote energy security and help protect the environment," said Sandy Winkler, senior researcher with Ford Research and Innovation and developer of the tool.
For example, the tool can demonstrate how operating an electric vehicle in Portland, Ore., has different environmental ramifications from operating one in Philadelphia, he said. By Joseph Szczesny