SOURCE: National Grid
DESCRIPTION:
WALTHAM, Mass., November 16, 2021 /3BL Media/ - National Grid will become the first energy company in the Northeast to pilot a fully electric Ford E-Transit cargo van for day-to-day operations in a pilot collaboration with Ford Motor Company. This is an important step towards reaching National Grid’s company-wide goal of moving to a 100% electric fleet by 2030 for its light-duty vehicles.
National Grid celebrated Ford’s fully electric van temporarily joining its Massachusetts fleet at a kick-off event at its Lowell yard this morning. It will be tested there for a month before being sent to National Grid’s New York fleet for a second round of testing. Throughout the pilot, the vehicle will be used to perform normal field work that is ordinarily done by gas-powered vehicles, such as regular home meter-readings.
“We are excited to be the first energy company in the Northeast to test out Ford’s electric van,” said Badar Khan, President of National Grid, U.S. “Over the next decade, National Grid will be moving to a 100% electric fleet for our light duty vehicles and working to replace medium and heavy-duty vehicles with cleaner options. Last year, we began testing electric backhoes and this year, e-vans could bring us closer to our goal of net zero by 2050.”
Ford’s E-Transit is the first all-electric cargo van from a full-line automaker in North America, and is an electrified version of the Ford Transit, which has become America’s best-selling van. Ford will use feedback and data from the pilot program to validate real-world vehicle performance across a broad range of use cases, upfits, temperatures and driving environments to continue to refine products and develop additional training tools.
"The all-electric E-Transit will be a game changer for utility companies like National Grid, who rely on commercial vans to support their field service operations,” said Andrew Walker, Ford Pro E-Transit Marketing Manager. “The electric powertrain enables zero emissions and 40% savings related to reduction of fuel costs and less maintenance while delivering all the versatility and capability our Transit customers rely on today. Field technicians will love Pro Power Onboard because it lets them run power tools off the vehicle at remote job sites. E-Transit will be a great tool for National Grid to meet its productivity and sustainability objectives."
With this pilot, National Grid hopes to continue leading the way in its transition to a clean energy future.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of our commitment to a clean energy future, National Grid is a Principal Partner for COP26, the UN global climate summit, which will be located in the UK in November 2021.
For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.
KEYWORDS: NYSE: NGG, National Grid, Ford Motor Company, electric vehicle (EV)
