Ford dealers are charged up and EV ready

Ford New Zealand says its retail partners have completed technical training and invested in charging infrastructure to become certified EV dealers and be at the forefront of the electrification change.

The national sales company has also confirmed the Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the new Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) qualify for the government’s $5750 Clean Car Discount rebate.

It says the Escape PHEV, the Transit Custom PHEV and the Tourneo PHEV are now available for customer order at Ford dealerships.

Ford New Zealand managing director Simon Rutherford says the company made the decision to adjust the price on the Transit Custom PHEV to make it a more viable option for people who want to drive a greener alternative.

“Customer feedback was that they were prepared to pay a premium for the PHEV compared with the diesel, but we’ve been able to make it an even more attractive proposition,” Rutherford says.

“From August 1, the Transit Custom PHEV will be available from $78,990 (+ORC), which enhances its consideration level for new van buyers as it now falls within rebate eligibility requirements,” he says.

The second quarter of 2022 will see the introduction of an all-electric Transit Cargo, offering a range of up to 350km.

“For tradies and our other customers with key functional needs who are likely to be one of the groups most affected by future penalties, we are looking at providing them with alternatives in the new Transit Custom and Tourneo PHEVs,” Rutherford says.

“A range of 350km will likely be more than enough for the majority of city-based drivers, such as couriers and tradesmen, and is certainly far in excess of the average distance most people drive each day.

“There’s been a real step-change in the way EV and PHEV models are viewed, which makes it an exciting time to be bringing new energy powertrain options to the market,” Rutherford says.

“All-new vehicles such as F150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E are capturing the attention of motoring enthusiasts around the globe, thanks to their incredible power, acceleration and performance capabilities.

“Ford Motor Company has and continues to invest significantly in no-and-low emission vehicle mobility solutions and, over time, we look forward to introducing an expanded range of fully capable Electric and Plug-In Hybrid models to Kiwi motorists,” he says.

Many Ford models will also fit into the Government’s proposed ‘no fee’ band, scheduled for introduction next year.

For customers who still require the versatility of a ute, the 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo Ranger with its 10-speed automatic transmission is a fuel-efficient and one of the lowest carbon emitting options in the ute segment. This relatively low CO2 will translate into being at the lighter end of the penalties in the ute segment in 2022 according to Ford New Zealand.

It says the investment in this new technology has helped deliver more torque and power than the outgoing 3.2 engine – giving Ford customers what they need from a performance perspective, but with the added benefit of a lower CO2 footprint.