Uncharted territory means dealing with unknowns, as commercial customers are learning to move their fleets toward electric vehicles. Ford Pro™ is helping manage the anxieties this kind of uncertainty brings by helping to make the transition to an electric future easy, bundling vehicles with charging solutions and telematics software to offer a one-stop shop for businesses to accelerate productivity.
A Ford Pro survey of U.S. fleet purchasing decision makers reveals nearly three-quarters of these commercial customers from small businesses to large fleets feel pressure to adopt electric vehicles, while more than 60 percent considering electric vehicles are planning to adopt the technology within two years. Today, the list of forward-thinking companies adding the benefits of Ford Pro grows again with the announcement of two new collaborations.
Wilbur-Ellis, a global distribution leader in sustainable agriculture products and consulting, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California’s leading electricity provider serving northern and central California, are announcing plans to add Ford electric trucks and vans, Ford Pro Charging solutions, charging software and Ford Pro E-Telematics to their fleets.
“At Ford Pro, we’re aligning our business model to support customers who want to create a positive impact on people and the planet,” said Ted Cannis, Ford Pro chief executive officer. “We know the transition to electric vehicles can come with uncertainties. That’s why we’re focused on working with pioneers like Wilbur-Ellis and PG&E, helping them quickly realize the benefits of combining electric vehicles with charging solutions and data insights to help achieve their sustainability goals, improve how energy is managed, accelerate their productivity and improve bottom lines.”
Wilbur-Ellis plans to add F-150® Lightning™ Pro trucks, Ford Pro Charging solutions, charging software and in-vehicle telematics into its fleet in Sonoma County and the Salinas Valley of California. As part of the strategy to meet its stringent new sustainability goals, the company will integrate 10 electric trucks initially, while learning to optimize energy solutions alongside Dutton Ranch, a longtime Wilbur-Ellis customer that is already testing Ford Pro vehicles, charging and software in real-world farming conditions as part of a pilot program with the Sonoma County Winegrowers.
“We’re very excited to be early adopters of the new Ford F-150 Lightning Pro trucks and to deploy them in a commercial agricultural setting,” said John Buckley, Wilbur-Ellis president and chief executive officer. “This collaboration is a win for everyone. Our customers will benefit from the information we gather about the impact these vehicles could have in their operations.”
The Ford Pro survey also revealed more than 50 percent of commercial customers see infrastructure setup as a top concern in transitioning to electric. Ford Pro Charging is a critical part of the solution, helping businesses large and small potentially reduce operating costs by optimizing the best time to charge vehicles, in addition to offering consulting services to help businesses plan, install and maintain charging services based upon their unique needs.
PG&E is continuing its ongoing electric vehicle collaboration with Ford, announced in March, now with Ford Pro, to add charging hardware and software solutions to select F-150 Lightning Pro trucks into its California fleet. The company will begin testing energy management improvements using Ford’s vehicle-to-grid technology. As part of the initiative, PG&E will assimilate the electric vehicles into its fleet operations alongside Ford Pro charging stations and explore leveraging the F-150 Lightning Pro batteries to shave peak energy usage at one of its depot locations.
Ford Pro is also helping government agencies and businesses of all sizes do their part to address the urgency of climate change and help accelerate progress toward a sustainable future by showing them the clear advantages of an electric ecosystem. Ford Pro recently launched relationships with industry leaders on sustainability such as United Rentals, Penske Truck Leasing and Sunbelt Rentals®.
Published in the August 2022 Edition