More Ford employees will soon be driving to work entirely on electrons, thanks to a new workplace charging network. Ford plans to install EV charging stations at more than 50 of its company offices, product development campuses and manufacturing facilities – nearly every Ford facility in the US and Canada. Ford already has more than 1,700 charging stations at dealerships and company facilities – the new initiative will add approximately 200 more.
“Ford’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond our fuel-efficient vehicles to include our daily workplace,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure. “We know that a growing electrified vehicle infrastructure is key to making plug-in vehicles a viable option for more consumers. Ford is committed to doing our part to help grow that infrastructure.”
The service will initially be free to employees for the first four hours. Ford estimates it will cost the company about 50 cents to fully charge a vehicle, saving employees up to $2 in gasoline each day. Ford’s workplace EV chargers will be networked together, allowing the company to gather information on EV use, such as the number of hours vehicles are charging and the amount of CO2 reduced.
Data from Ford’s MyFord Mobile app shows that drivers of its Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi PHEVs typically make three of their four daily trips in all-electric mode. By adding another charge during the day at the workplace, employees may be able to get through the whole work week without a drop of gas.
Ford customers have logged a total of 30 million all-electric miles, saving more than 1.2 million kilograms of CO2. The company racked up its best electrified vehicle sales ever in August, with 8,292 vehicles sold, up 288 percent over the same period a year ago.
Source: Ford