Responding to rising fuel costs and the potential for lower total cost of ownership, businesses across the southeastern U.S. are increasingly turning to electric vehicles, with more than 100,000 registered across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.
Recognizing the need to support them during this transition, Atlanta-based energy provider Southern Company is collaborating with Ford Pro™ on a six-month pilot program to study the operational benefits and requirements of electrification for businesses.
Using insights from the pilot, Southern Company, whose subsidiaries serve more than 587,000 business customers, will develop an electrification blueprint for all businesses throughout its service areas. The pilot program will focus on optimizing depot charging practices (including electricity use and costs), maximizing vehicle uptime, and minimizing total cost of ownership.
Successful electric fleet management requires more than vehicles and chargers; it also necessitates intelligent software.
To that end, the pilot will leverage Ford Pro Intelligence1 and Ford Pro Charging Software2 to collect and analyze connected vehicle data from more than 200 F-150® Lightning® trucks and charging data from over 150 Ford Pro Chargers, including Level 2 AC and Level 3 DC charging stations, at Southern Company subsidiaries. Data insights can help Southern Company system fleet operators schedule charging to reduce electricity consumption during peak demand periods (known as demand response curtails).
With the help of Ford Pro, Southern Company isn’t just participating in the transition to electric vehicles—it’s setting an example for others. Understanding the charging behaviors associated with its system’s electric fleet will help Southern Company and its subsidiaries advise their commercial and industrial customers and support their energy requirements as they integrate electric vehicles and charging units.
“This pilot will create a flexible, scalable electric fleet management model that can be readily adopted by others," said Ananya Gupta, senior product manager. "At the conclusion of the program, organizations will have a blueprint to successfully navigate the transition to electric vehicles and unlock all their associated benefits.”
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for updates on how Ford Pro and Southern Company are building a scalable, cost-effective charging operation and empowering others to do the same.
1Available on vehicles with embedded modem or equipped with approved plug-in device (PID). May require modem activation. Ford Telematics™ and Ford Data Services require a purchased subscription. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features, and access to vehicle data, depend on subscription and compatible AT&T network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.
2Ford Pro™ Charging Software subscription required. Chargers must conform to Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.6-J industry standard and be internet-connected. Ford Pro Charging Software is subject to agreement to Ford Smart Mobility Terms and conditions. Subscription subject to monthly charge. Subject to OFAC and credit check for subscription eligibility. Connected Services and features and access to charger data depend on subscription and compatible cellular network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks and charger capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.
