The Ford Motor Company has several models that are leading the way in environmentally-friendly vehicles.

That fact was recently backed up again when the International Energy Agency (IEA) awarded the company with the “Clean Vehicle Award” for its accomplishments in engineering high-efficiency automobiles. This marks the second time that Ford has received this distinguished award.

The organization presented Ford with the award on December 4 at the 2007 Electric Vehicle Symposium in Anaheim, California.

There were three possible categories for awards this year. Ford received the award for selling more than 50,000 units of hybrid models worldwide. The award generally goes to the manufacturer with outstanding sales reports for the year. Last year, Ford won the same award for surpassing sales of 25,000 hybrid units.

Greg Frenette, the Chief Engineer of the Fuel Cell Production Program at Ford, said the automaker’s hybrid program is an “unqualified success” and these fuel-efficient vehicles are critical for preserving the future of the United States. He added that the company’s Ford Escape hybrid is the “most fuel-efficient SUV in the world” and has withstood the test of time because it was the first SUV hybrid on the market.

The IEA also recognized Ford’s contribution to the hybrid market, stating that the automaker was vital to popularizing and producing more efficient models in the early days of this emerging technology.

The IEA started presenting these awards in 1993 as a way to impartially judge and disseminate current information regarding the latest technologies in the hybrid auto industry, including electric and fuel cell vehicles. The organization comprises researchers and officials from 11 countries. These researchers study the latest topics in the industry to help the organization make its award decisions.

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