DALLAS - BAF, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced the company has received a CARB (California Air Resources Board) Executive Order (EO) for the 2012 dedicated CNG Ford Transit Connect.

The CARB EO allows the Ford Transit Connect to be sold and operated in California, the state with the most stringent emissions control rules, effective immediately. Sixteen other states follow CARB rules.

BAF already has CARB EOs for the 2012 F-450/550/650 utility body and E-450 shuttle. Also for 2012, BAF has EPA certifications for these dedicated CNG Ford vehicles: E-250/350 van, E-450 shuttle, F-250/350 pickup and F-450/550/650 utility body. BAF's bi-fuel CNG products -- E-250/350 van and F-250/350 pickup -- are EPA-certified.

"The Transit Connect is in growing demand for fleets of all types across the country, including taxis and service vans," said John Bacon, BAF president. "CARB certification means the Transit Connect will now be available in all 50 states."

BAF is the first CNG converter recognized as a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) for gaseous fuel. Further, the company uses Ford-accredited QCM (Quality Calibrations Modifier) calibrations and all vehicles converted by BAF are registered through Ford QFC (Quality Fleet Care) for all warranty and service work through Ford dealerships. Finally, BAF takes the extra step of crash testing its light-duty vehicle products to achieve FMVSS 303 compliance.

"No other company in the market has made the investments in quality that we have," noted Bacon. "We continue to ensure that every aspect of our company is positioned to serve our existing customers as well as growing market demand."

BAF has recently leased a new 91,000-square-foot facility in Dallas to house its expanding headquarters, R&D and service facility there. It has a network of 65 dealers across the country certified to install the company's CNG conversions.

Currently priced up to $1.50 or more per gallon lower than diesel or gasoline (depending upon local markets), the use of natural gas fuels reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 30 percent in light-duty vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 98 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is sourced in the U.S. and Canada, making natural gas a secure North American energy choice.