Ford Pro customer list continues to grow

Wilbur-Ellis, a global distribution leader in sustainable agriculture products and consulting, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), California’s leading electricity provider serving northern and central California, join the growing number of Ford Pro customers.

Ford Pro, the business and commercial division of the Blue Oval brand, will be supplying both companies with Ford battery electric trucks and vans, Ford Pro Charging solutions, charging software, and Ford Pro E-Telematics, bolstering the above-mentioned businesses’ fleet.

“At Ford Pro, we’re aligning our business model to support customers who want to create a positive impact on people and the planet. 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,” said Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis.

Wilbur-Ellis is planning to add several Ford F-150 Lightning Pro trucks as well as Ford Pro Charging solutions, charging software, and in-vehicle telematics into its fleet in Sonoma County and the Salinas Valley of California.

“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. 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,” said Wilbur-Ellis President and CEO John Buckley.

PG&E, on the other hand, will add charging hardware and software solutions to select F-150 Lightning Pro trucks into its California fleet. PG&E will be looking into how it can improve energy management using Ford’s vehicle-to-grid technology. In addition, the power company 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.

“We are in a transformative moment at the intersection of the utility and transportation industries and we have a very real opportunity in front of us to deliver for our customers, business owners, hometowns — and our planet — for the better. PG&E’s collaboration with some of the world’s leading automakers will allow us to engage in the full ecosystem of potential with original equipment manufacturers, like Ford, to advance bi-directional EV charging technologies for a cleaner, safer and brighter future for all,” said PG&E Engineering, Planning, and Strategy Executive Vice President Jason Glickman.

Ford also launches a pilot program in cooperation with Sonoma County Winegrowers. The pilot includes seamlessly integrating Ford Pro Telematics into farmers’ existing gas fleets. The program was positively received by Sonoma County ranchers who are exploring ways how they can operate with more efficiency. As a result, Sonoma County Winegrowers has offered Ford Pro Telematics to all 1,800 members for one year as farmers look for ways to improve efficiency, even in fleets of gas-powered vehicles.

“We have over 50 vehicles on Ford Pro Telematics and have already identified insights that are improving our bottom line like long idle times costing us an estimated US$24,000 per year in wasted gas. Ford Pro Telematics has improved efficiency and productivity by helping us reduce vehicle downtime through complete visibility into maintenance needs, and we expect those benefits to grow as electric vehicles and charging stations become a more regular part of our operations,” said Vino Farms’ Marissa Ledbetter.

Photos from Ford, Wilbur-Ellis, and PG&E

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