Ford teams up with Drive Electric

Ford New Zealand has joined Drive Electric, a non-profit organisation working to make electric vehicle ownership mainstream in New Zealand. 

Globally, Ford  is on a path to accelerate towards a zero-emissions future by investing more than $22 billion to electrify many of its vehicles.

Ford is committed to be carbon neutral companywide by 2050, and its current line-up of electrified vehicles includes the Mustang Mach E and F150 Hybrid.

In New Zealand, it has been encouraged by initial demand for the Transit PHEV and is looking forward to introducing the Escape Plug-In Hybrid later this year, and the all-electric E-Transit in 2022.

The E-Transit is a full-size Transit Cargo with DC charging and a 350km range.

“As a volume brand we see our products and technology as a key enabler of de-carbonising the transport sector through effective and targeted renewal of New Zealand’s aging vehicle fleet,” says Ford NZ managing director, Simon Rutherford.

“As the consumer appetite for EVs grows, capacity increases, infrastructure and accessibility improve, we aim to further expand our EV line-up.”

Rutherford says joining Drive Electric helps Ford to contribute further to industry-wide efforts and discussions to find “a pragmatic, customer-focused and scalable pathway to the wider adoption of new EVs in New Zealand.” 

Drive Electric’s chair Mark Gilbert says Ford has already committed to sell only electric passenger vehicles in Europe by 2030. “We’re excited about seeing how Ford can contribute to New Zealand’s zero emissions transport future.”