Ford teams up with disruptive energy players, Octopus Energy and Tibber, to launch its new smart charging initiative. This partnership will not only bring financial savings to Ford EV owners but also optimise the use of renewable energy sources.
Charging Forward with Ford
In an exciting announcement made today, Ford is bringing yet another innovation to its expanding range of electric vehicles (EVs). In an endeavour to make owning an EV easier, Ford is partnering up with industry trailblazers, Octopus Energy in Great Britain and Tibber in Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway. This collaboration aims to facilitate charging Ford EVs using energy tariffs specifically crafted to enhance the ownership experience.
Innovation Meets Disruption
Ford’s new energy initiative involves a specially developed Dynamic Charging feature. The feature allows Ford EVs to communicate with the energy providers’ intelligent supply networks. As a result, owners can easily input their desired state-of-charge and departure time using a smartphone app, knowing their battery will be charged using tariffs designed to maximise cost savings and the use of renewable energy.
Speaking on the initiative, Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model E, Europe, said, “Our new energy initiative is another milestone on our journey to offer a new generation of all-electric vehicles built for a connected world while providing outstanding customer experiences. We’ve chosen to team up with energy providers that share our disruptor mindset and that customers can rely on to deliver leading rates for charging with renewable electricity.”
Energy at a Discount
Research conducted by Ford reveals that up to 87% of Mustang Mach-E drivers charge their vehicles at home. Thus, the cost of energy used becomes a significant consideration when charging. Ford’s innovative energy services offer potential benefits to EV owners irrespective of the charging time – day or night. The connected technology can optimise charging to use cheaper off-peak electricity at night and lower energy prices during peak renewable energy supply including solar during the day.
A Greener Future with Octopus Energy and Tibber
In the wake of a more sustainable future, Michael Cottrell, partnerships director at Octopus Energy, quoted, “With every electric car that takes the road, we’re getting closer to zero emissions transport. Our smart tariffs allow drivers to tap into cheap renewable power, potentially saving drivers hundreds of pounds a year while doing their bit for the planet.”
Interested Ford customers in Great Britain can learn more about home charger installation by visiting *Ford’s home charging website*.
In a joint endeavour to encourage smart energy consumption, Børge Dvergsdal, manager, Smart Charging, Tibber, remarked, “We are impressed with Ford’s ambitions and have a shared mission to empower consumers to use energy more smartly. Our collaboration will offer consumers a seamless charging experience to the benefit of their wallet and the planet.”
Looking Ahead
By 2025, Ford aims to offer ten electric vehicles in Europe, including Explorer, Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and more. Beyond this, the plan is to roll out energy services to further electric products through 2024 and beyond. Ford is on a mission to shift its entire line-up of passenger and commercial vehicles in Europe to 100% electric by 2035, with an aim to achieve carbon neutrality globally no later than 2050.
