Ford Pro is simplifying electrification for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe with a new all-in-one home EV charging solution for its growing line-up of electric vans.
The offering is the latest service to join the company’s digital and physical platform of vehicles, charging, software, servicing and finance designed to help businesses reduce their cost of ownership, work more effectively, and simplify the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford Pro has designed its new home EV charging solution to benefit time-poor SMEs who do not operate from a central depot or employ full-time fleet managers. Drivers can recharge their electric vans at home between shifts using a connected Ford Pro Home Charger, which Ford Pro will also install, maintain and guarantee with a five-year warranty.
To help reduce energy costs, Ford Pro charging software enables users to schedule charging to maximise the use of off-peak energy tariffs. The home charging solution also integrates with Ford Pro Telematics to simplify driver reimbursement and compliance for office-based staff. This means large fleets with drivers who park at home overnight can also integrate the new home charging service into their operations.
Ford Pro is launching home EV charging in the UK during summer 2024 in line with availability of its E‑Transit Custom electric van, and will then extend the service to major European markets.
To support business customers who charge overnight at home, Ford Pro’s home charging solution includes expert consultation and training, installation and maintenance of a Ford Pro Home Charger, as well as software to make planning and paying for charging easy.
Dedicated Ford Pro Charging Software enables users to schedule charging during cheaper overnight tariffs where available to help reduce cost of ownership. E-Transit Custom’s 11 kW AC three-phase onboard charger is capable of fully recharging the battery in 6.7 hours, 3 so customers will comfortably be able to recharge overnight.
Businesses with multiple drivers charging at home can use Ford Pro Telematics software to easily track energy use across their fleets, and can view reimbursement due for each driver using a set rate per kWh. The system also provides central control of Remote Pre‑Conditioning to warm or cool the battery and cab while on charge to optimise driving range, and displays alerts if a vehicle is not charging when it should be. Staff can also check vehicle health data and state of charge via Ford Pro Telematics Drive – the companion app to Ford Pro Telematics – or FordPass, if they operate a single vehicle.
As some SMEs use their work van as a personal vehicle, Ford Pro offers comprehensive public charging support for longer trips. E‑Transit Custom supports DC fast charging up to 125 kW for a 10-80 per cent recharge in about 39 minutes. A new charge profile front-loads energy to enable quick, useful top-ups; in lab testing, the system delivered 82 km of range in just 10 minutes. Every E‑Transit Custom is sold with a 12-month complimentary subscription to access over 650,000 public charging points across Europe via the BlueOval Charge Network.
Whether a van is recharged overnight at a driver’s home, in a depot with a bespoke Ford Pro depot charging solution, or on longer trips using the BlueOval Charging Network, Ford Pro reduces paperwork with centralised payments and reimbursement.
