Verizon to add 501 Ford vans powered by natural gas to service fleet

Verizon to buy Ford natural gas vans

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. said Friday that Verizon Communications will buy 501 vans outfitted with engines that burn compressed natural gas.

The phone company plans to use the 2010 model Ford E-250 cargo van that will save an estimated 1.62 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year compared to the output of models that run on conventional gasoline.

Verizon plans to use the vans in markets that have fueling stations for compressed natural gas. They will be primarily driven by technicians making house calls to install phone, cable television and Internet services.

Terms of the deal were not released.