Ford tests plug-in hybrid vans in Germany

(EP) Ford will expand its study on the positive effects that the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can have in cities and will initiate a testing process for hybrid commercial vehicles in Cologne (Germany), as reported by the company in a statement.

The tests, funded by the company and in cooperation with municipal fleets, will have an initial duration of twelve months and will complement those conducted in London and Valencia, where it has a plant in Almussafes.

https://www.v2charge.com/es/coches-de-empresa-flotas-de-coches-electricos/

Starting in spring 2019, Ford will operate a fleet of ten plug-in hybrid Transit Customs with local companies to study the extent to which PHEVs can help achieve urban air quality goals.

“Ford recognizes Cologne as a strategically important city for the mobility of the future. Together with the city of Cologne, we will begin to investigate how we could contribute to cities having better air quality and being more productive,” explained the chairman of Ford’s board of directors in Germany, Gunnar Herrmann.

The Transit Custom PHEV features a hybrid system aimed at achieving zero-emission range exceeding 50 kilometers. To extend its range, it is equipped with a 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine that charges the water-cooled compact lithium-ion battery needed to provide a total range of up to 500 kilometers.

The batteries have a storage capacity of 14 kilowatt-hours, and the installation of the battery pack under the loading floor preserves the entire cargo volume of the standard van. The battery fully charges in three hours through a 240-volt power source with 16 or 32 amperes.