NEW electrified vehicles, connected services and strategic partnerships will help Ford to deliver greater productivity for commercial vehicle customers. At its “Go Further” experience in Amsterdam Ford outlined commercial vehicle solutions that will begin supporting European businesses from later this year:

• Announced a new all-electric Ford Transit van anticipated for volume launch in 2021*
• Unveiled a new Tourneo Custom Plug-In Hybrid eight-seat people mover that will be available to European customers from late 2019
• Announced a new initiative targeting 100 per cent uptime for commercial vehicle operators via a usage-based maintenance system supported by real-time data
• Previewed the new FordPass Pro app, specifically designed to support smaller firms and owner drivers to maximise their productivity, to be launched later this year
• Announced an expanded Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) programme for commercial vehicle converters, now with 100 accredited partners in Europe, and a plan to double the number by 2020.

Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, said: “Commercial customers need smarter, more integrated solutions, built around a connected business environment. “Ford provides tough, flexible vehicles with a choice of fuel-efficient and electrified powertrains, and Ford’s inbuilt modem is a game-changer, enabling smart commercial vehicle solutions to help customers to manage their fleets – so they can get on with their business.” An new all-electric Transit will enter production in 2021, contributing to cleaner, quieter towns and cities, and reduced running costs for commercial vehicle users. Designed to address the needs of urban operators for a practical and versatile load-carrier with zero-emission driving capability, the all-electric Transit will be available in multiple body styles, with a competitive payload and built-in connectivity, delivering full Transit capability and durability. The electric powertrain is being engineered to provide a practical daily driving range for city-based businesses, to be maintained in all weather conditions and throughout the working life of the vehicle. Through its joint project with StreetScooter, Ford is providing an all-electric solution targeted at the last-mile delivery sector. The Transit-based StreetScooter WORK XL, assembled at the Ford plant in Cologne, Germany, features an all-electric powertrain and is currently in service with Deutsche Post DHL in Germany. Later this year, WORK XL vehicles will begin pilots with a range of other businesses in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. For operators that need to travel in and out of low-emission zones in urban areas, Ford’s Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid van offers zero-emission driving capability with no range anxiety. Ford is the first volume manufacturer to offer plug-in hybrid technology in the one-tonne van segment, and the new model will go on sale in late 2019. The Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid’s front wheels are driven exclusively by an electric motor/generator, powered by a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with Ford’s multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine acting as a range extender. The advanced hybrid powertrain targets a zero-emission driving range of up to 31 miles or 310 miles using the range extender. To better understand the benefits for the environment and for customers, the vehicle is currently being trialled in London, with further trials soon to begin in Valencia, Spain, and Cologne, Germany. Ford announced at “Go Further” that this vehicle will be joined by new Tourneo Custom Plug-In Hybrid. The eight-seater people mover’s unique-to-segment ability to arrange the two rear rows in conference format for outstanding access and enhanced interaction between passengers – or in two rows of three seats facing forward – makes the vehicle perfectly suited to executive shuttle services. For businesses operating in stop-start urban or suburban conditions, 48-volt mild hybrid technology offers the capability to enhance productivity with a low-investment electrified vehicle. Ford’s segment-first EcoBlue Hybrid powertrains are available in the Transit, Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom models from mid-2019, delivering reduced running costs for operators. Based on the latest generation of connected products featuring the FordPass Connect on-board modem technology – from the Fiesta Van to the Transit – Ford is developing a range of integrated commercial vehicle solutions to enable customers to manage their vehicles more easily and conveniently, and to optimise their productivity. Ford announced at “Go Further” that it is developing an innovative and predictive usage-based maintenance solution with the aim of delivering 100% uptime for vehicles. The first stages of this service will be launched later in 2019. Promising to revolutionise the way commercial vehicle customers think about servicing, the new solution will enable maintenance to be tailored for each vehicle, rather than being determined by fixed service intervals. Sensors on key systems provide real-time data, so service attention is only given when required, and action is taken before problems become serious enough to cause a failure. Using a convenient app, business owners can check on the status of every individual vehicle, and drivers can see live and predicted vehicle health data. Servicing and maintenance work that might normally be carried out in separate visits can be intelligently bundled together, minimising time off-road. For larger operators, the Ford Telematics product being introduced this year provides fleet managers with key decision-making data to optimise business performance. Providing real-time manufacturer-grade information sourced directly from the connected Ford vehicles in the fleet, routed through Ford’s Transportation Mobility Cloud, Ford Telematics enables managers to view data about the health, efficiency, productivity and safety of each vehicle using a desktop application, and quickly assess where action needs to be taken. Also first announced last year, Ford Data Services provides large fleets with the opportunity to receive a tailored package of data from their vehicles via the Cloud and integrate it seamlessly into their own systems. Ford is focusing just as hard on the needs of small businesses and owner-drivers. The FordPass app is already being relied upon by vehicle owners, and provides a range of practical features to enhance convenience, security and efficiency. This includes new features tailored to business users, such as a parking feature that allows you to filter parking locations based on the height of your van. Later this year Ford is launching the all-new FordPass Pro app, specially targeted to small business owners who have between one and five vehicles. This no-nonsense smartphone app will provide owners with the information and tools they need to ensure their vehicles are ready for work.