Business Mobility:because choosing an electric vehicle can be an advantage

Electric mobility is increasingly a strategic choice even for small businesses.In addition to the environmental advantages and lower operating costs, the services offered by manufacturers are growing.The latest example is Ford.

Net of what could change for the future of mobility now that the European Union has had its own elections, with the EU potentially reviewing rules on green e electric car, the transport transition, in addition to private mobility, is transforming the way in which businesses, even small ones, manage their mobility.Net of political orientations and possible rethinks on the 2035, choose one electric fleet for your business, even small, can mean reducing your impact, operating costs and improving your company image.

Transport is responsible for 27 percent of the country's pollution and 92 percent of this percentage is due to road transport, this is what emerged from the event on sustainable mobility organized by ASviS on Goal 9 "Business, innovation and infrastructure" , held last May in Rome as part of the Sustainable Development Festival.

Ford, this is how we help small businesses transition to electric

An increasingly efficient corporate mobility to which manufacturers are also making a strong contribution, not only by expanding the range of electric and hybrid commercial vehicles, but by supporting those who choose them with a series of services:“Small businesses are the heart of our country's economy, essential to our communities, and many of them rely on vans Ford.Their perspective has allowed us to develop a range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to support them in every sector and location.Furthermore, we have designed services aimed at making the productivity typical of large fleets accessible even to small businesses that do not have a fleet manager", he explained in a recent meeting Marco Buraglio, Director of the Ford Italia commercial vehicle division.

Savings, efficiency and connectivity are the most felt needs

In short, having a fleet of electric or electrified vans is increasingly a distinctive choice for companies with a sustainable vision of their business, looking for greater logistical efficiency, connected vehicle management, but also concrete savings .It doesn't matter whether you choose to rent or purchase, a commercial vehicle for its use, often daily and with long distances, can have a major impact on company processes and image.

Furthermore, services like those offered by Ford Pro and mentioned above, thanks to specialized software and applications, help companies monitor in real time the location, speed, energy consumption and status of the electric vans in their fleet.Which means optimizing delivery routes, reducing downtime and maximizing the use of vehicles.And for those who still have so-called charging anxiety, services like those offered by Ford also offer charging solutions and tools for planning it.

Goods or people, what is needed for more efficient transport

In short, whether it is owned or rented vehicles, whether the transport needs are those of people or goods, the main advantage of adopting fleets of electric vehicles for businesses remains the saving on operating costs.Even in the face of an initial purchase cost that is generally higher than a similar vehicle with an internal combustion engine, if you do the math carefully (what experts call Tco, Total cost of ownership), saving, especially in the long term, is always advantageous.This is followed by fiscal and financial advantages, such as tax breaks and government incentives.The market now offers a vast choice of electric (or electrified) vehicles, both for the transport of people and goods.Among the latest Ford innovations, theE-Tourneo Custom and theE-Transit Custom, both electric in the first case it is a vehicle that can transport up to 8 people, in the second of the electric version of the one ton vehicle best-selling in Europe.

Ford E-Tourneo Custom, 8 seats and over 300 kilometers of electric range

Let's see in detail what they offer.The new version of E-Tourneo Custom electric offers a range (declared, which as always affects load conditions and driving styles) of up to 325 kilometers.Also available in the plug-in hybrid version (in this case the 2.5-litre petrol engine is joined by the electric motor with a range of up to 56 kilometres), E-Tourneo Custom has a 64 kWh battery and an electric motor from 160 kW.Charging can take place from a three-phase 11 kW alternating current column in less than 8 hours, with a rapid 125 kW direct current charging station, around 39 minutes are enough to go from 10 to 80 percent of autonomy.The maximum towing capacity is 2 thousand kilos and on board, thanks to the sockets in the cabin, it is possible to power tools and electrical equipment up to 2.3 kW.

In addition to comfort, Remarkable for a “commercial” vehicle (chassis and suspension are largely new), the E-Tourneo Custom offers good flexibility thanks to rail-mounted seats in the second and third rows, which can slide or be removed.Among the features that make travel pleasant, the 13 inch touch screen dedicated to infotainment (including weather and traffic forecasts), the panoramic glass roof, the comfortable electric sliding side doors, wireless charging for the smartphone, the three-zone climate control and an excellent quality audio system.Unique the reclining steering wheel which once reclined becomes a sort of "table" that can be used during stops as a support for a computer or as a support surface, a feature also present on the electric E-Transit Custom.

Ford E-Transit Custom, what the one-ton electric offers

Characteristics largely shared also by the second Ford innovation dedicated to small businesses, E-Transit Custom, a one-tonne electric van with a payload up to 1,011 kilos and a towing capacity of 2,300 kilos.Efficient in its solutions (the air conditioning works thanks to a steam injection heat pump) and in its driving (the regenerative braking in the city allows you to extend the autonomy), the E-Transit is available in versions 100 or 160 kW (135 or 217 horsepower).

There drums it is integrated (and protected) inside the load floor to optimize space and weight.Ford claims for this vehicle “a reduction in maintenance costs up to 40 percent compared to a similar diesel vehicle", with further savings connected to maintenance (every two years), the eight-year warranty and 160 thousand kilometres.As for the possibles installations, the E-Transit is available in two lengths, in the van version, double cab van with second row of three seats and fixed bulkhead or combi suitable for mixed use of cargo and passengers (up to 8)