Vehicles that electrify your workday

As we’ve discussed over the last few days, the challenges that come with lowering our emissions from cars are much greater than simply convincing everyone to switch to PHEVs, BEVs or Hyrdrogen fueled cars.

It’s hard to know what the first step is. Should we lay out a solid plan to modify our infrastructure before we start seriously pushing personal adoption of emissions-free vehicles? What’s the tipping point where special interests and lobbyists stop fighting the status quo? Or should we just plow ahead and hope those issues take care of themselves?

It’s hard not to think about these big picture issues. But sometimes it’s good to start small. What tiny investment can we make that will effect change?

Ford has one for you.

The Ford eQVM program, unveiled in Indianapolis at the Work Truck Show, is designed to help companies that build commercial specialty vehicles on Ford platforms. Ford provides technical support and certification to companies that install electrified and hydraulic hybrid powertrains in their trucks, which allows them to retain their factory warranties.

The eQVM program is an expansion of Ford’s Advanced Fuel Qualified Vehicle Modifier program, which aims to modify commercial Ford vehicles to help fit them into new industries. Motorhomes, buses, limousines, and emergency vehicles are all industries supported by QVM, along with traditional work trucks.

Before the launch of eQVM, the QVM program would help buyers find Ford Transit vehicles, as well as F-Series trucks, that run on propane, or compressed natural gas. Ford’s been talking a big game when it comes to emissions, recently investing $4.5 billion in creating 13 new electrified cars over the next five years. It’s not at all surprising that even this performance and power-focused program is moving toward focusing on electric in commercial applications as well.

“Ford supports electrification for a variety of vehicle types,” Ford sustainability and QVM program manager Richard Cupka Jr. said. “The eQVM program extends that support to the vocational truck industry where customers need relatively small numbers of specialized vehicles – there is no one-size-fits-all work truck.”

That kind of hits the nail on the head: there is no simple step or solution to lowering our emissions. Programs like this that work creatively to deliver a solution tailored to an industry’s needs are essential, even on a small scale. After all, even little steps move us closer to the big picture.