Ford Pro identifies four trends for EV commercials in 2025

Electric vehicles reached a record-high market share in the US in 2024, and 90% of fleet operators with EVs report planning to add more to their fleets. 

Adding electric vans and trucks is emerging as a strategy for reducing the total cost of ownership and operating costs across diverse industries and company sizes.   

Ford Pro, the commercial vehicles division of Ford Motor Company, has identified some top trends shaping the future of commercial vehicle electrification in 2025.

EV early adopters enter the “show, not tell” phase 

Many business and government customers who were early adopters of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are entering a new “show, not tell” phase of larger-scale adoption beyond their initial pilot programs with data on why it’s a good long-term business decision. 

By gradually adding electric vehicles, addressing potential challenges, and maximising benefits, these adopters are proving the economic case, inspiring others to invest.   

Ecolab, which operates 10,000 light-duty vehicles in its North American fleet, worked with Ford Pro to add 1000 F-150 Lightning trucks and Mustang Mach-E SUVs to its California fleet by 2025. The F-150 Lightning pickup has fewer moving parts than an ICE 2024 F-150, potentially lowering scheduled maintenance costs. 

“Energy company Vestas determined that the F-150 Lightning was the only electric truck to handle their rugged, remote work sites. The company implemented these learnings by purchasing more than 300 F-150 Lightning trucks and over 270 Ford Pro chargers to help stay powered up in rural areas.

“Existing EVs on the market weren’t conducive to supporting our people in the field. We need trucks. We need something that can handle rough conditions and transport tools and equipment,” Vestas North American fleet manager Michael Kraft says.

According to a report commissioned by Ford Pro, European small businesses could save €14,000 per vehicle over three years by switching to electric vans. 

When delivery company France Alliance first began delivering parcels in the Morbihan region of France, it relied on diesel-powered vans. 

Today, it operates Ford E-Transit vans supported by Ford Pro Charging Solutions. Switching to electric vans has cut their energy costs by more than 80%, with expenses dropping to just €3 per 100 kilometres, compared with €18-€20 per 100 kilometres for diesel-powered vans.

Data, insights, and software are driving EV adoption 

Connected vehicles with embedded or plug-in modems are becoming commonplace in fleet depots. The data they relay and the software that analyses it demonstrate electrification’s benefits, such as fuel savings, lower emissions, and reduced downtime. 

Chief Harry Hess of the Avondale Estates Police Department was initially sceptical of electric vehicles. However, the maintenance and cost benefits became apparent after adding several Ford electric trucks and SUVs to his fleet and activating Ford Pro Telematics software.

Between September 2022 and May 2024, the police department saved 2790 gallons of gas and almost 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Ford Pro Telematics data has become essential to Chief Hess’ fleet replacement cycle, making it easier to determine the optimal time to replace vehicles before maintenance costs increase. 

Sometimes, data shows the benefits of electrification even where they’re least expected, like in Canada’s cold winters. Fize Électrique, a Quebec-area electrical contractor, uses Ford Pro E-Telematics5 to track its fleet’s real-time range and charge status and remotely precondition vehicles in harsh temperatures. 

“Using Ford Pro E-Telematics, we’re able to track our range and efficiency at any moment – and even in the winter, our Ford E-Transit vans have plenty of capability to meet our needs,” said Alain Fiset, director of Smart Energy, Fize Électrique.

One-stop-shop ecosystems are helping businesses transition to EVs 

The journey to an electrified commercial fleet isn’t always straightforward. Having the right team makes a difference. 

Grade A Construction, a women-owned mid-size construction company in Tennessee, contacted its Ford Pro dealer for help simplifying vehicle management. The dealer formed a team that guided the company through the full spectrum of Ford Pro services, from Ford Pro FinSimple lines of credit to Ford Fleet Care streamlined billing and Ford Pro Telematics fleetwide data.

For Chris Russo, co-founder of South Carolina-based disability care provider Elite Home Care, the Ford Pro team has felt like an extension of his own. 

“I talk to the Ford Pro team as though they’re a part of our company now,” he said. “The level of support we’ve received through the process is unbelievable – helping us develop our charging infrastructure, sourcing equipment, finding contractors and following up to see how things are going.” 

Using Ford Pro’s one-stop-shop solutions, including vehicles, fitting, charging, telematics, and more, Elite Home Care saves $6,500 per Ford E-Transit van each year, allowing it to invest back in its business and community.

Commercial charging is evolving to address business needs

In surveys conducted with fleet operators, almost 30% said their employees take company vehicles home after work.

Hotpoint, a global home appliances manufacturer, found home charging the ideal solution after adding Ford E-Transit electric vans to its UK-based service vehicle fleet. 

“Our drivers don’t work from depots. If you’ve got a vehicle with good range, that driver doing 25 to 30 miles a week only needs to charge once a week. The investment in a home charger makes sense, and we also have the BlueOval public charging network,” Hotpoint’s UK fleet manager Cole Pemberton says.

Pemberton says that if a Hotpoint driver can’t find a public charger, Ford Pro Telematics allows fleet managers to pinpoint their location and divert them towards available chargers. 

Utility providers are increasingly involved in the trend toward charging solutions. Xcel Energy, a leading energy provider across the Midwest and Southwest, is collaborating with Ford Pro to support the installation of 30,000 electric vehicle charging ports by 2030 for business fleets in Xcel’s service areas. As part of the program, Ford Pro will also offer customers its suite of end-to-end charging solutions.

Southern Company, one of the largest energy providers in the U.S., is collaborating with Ford Pro to use connected vehicle and charging data to build a best-practices electrification blueprint for its nearly 587,000 business customers.

Business and government fleet managers interested in adding electric vans and trucks can begin with Ford Pro E-Switch Assist. This complimentary online tool uses real-world vehicle data to assess which vehicles can switch to electric. 

The tool is helping businesses of all sizes estimate their emissions and fuel cost savings — in other words, running the numbers to make “cents” of electrification’s business value for them. Since its launch, E-Switch Assist has assessed more than 38,000 vehicles, finding that 53% were ready to make the switch.