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How EV Adoption Can Help Address the Climate Crisis

Sep 28, 2023 | 4 min read

Temperatures this summer gave new meaning to the word “hot.” In June, record-breaking heat waves swept the country.1090 July heralded flooding rains and sweltering temperatures.1091 Unfortunately, extreme weather events like these are no longer an anomaly: According to scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information, the first seven months of 2023 contained the most billion-dollar disasters since 1980.1091

 

Solving the climate crisis isn’t the sole responsibility of any one business or sector, but each has a part to play. To curb some of the worst effects of climate change, scientists have advocated reducing carbon emissions and investing in alternative, cleaner energy sources.1092 It’s why many business leaders have taken steps to promote sustainability through recyclable packaging, LEED certification and even hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

 

Does EV Adoption Help the Environment?

 

Every day, commercial vehicles and trucks help efficiently circulate people and resources from coast to coast. The downside is that many of these vehicles and trucks burn fossil fuels and release large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) into our atmosphere. In fact, transportation was the single biggest contributor to GHG emissions in the U.S. economy in 2021 at 29%,1093 and light-duty vehicles and medium- to heavy-duty trucks were responsible for a vast majority of that share of emissions.1093

 

One of the best ways fleet businesses can step into the role of climate hero is to adopt EVs. Unlike conventional gas and diesel vehicles, EVs emit zero tailpipe emissions.126 Even when accounting for the energy needed to charge them, EVs typically have a smaller carbon footprint.1094 Plus, as renewable energy sources like solar and wind gain ground, the GHGs associated with EVs could continue to drop.1094

 

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Fleet businesses are discovering the benefits of EV adoption, including those related to sustainability.

Other Ways to Help Manage Emissions

 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and adopting EVs takes time, too. In certain situations, it may make more sense to continue using conventional vehicles. Fleet managers who are worried about how emissions from conventional vehicles will impact their sustainability goals should remember: They can’t manage what they don’t measure. By activating a Ford ProTM Telematics867 subscription, fleet managers can monitor important data around the health and location of their vehicles, as well as driving habits. Armed with these learnings, they can make data-informed decisions that will help manage emissions. For example:

 

  • Maintaining vehicles is essential from a total cost of ownership standpoint, but certain issues like low tire pressure can also affect a vehicle’s fuel economy.1095 Ford Pro Telematics867 tracks routine maintenance events and alerts fleets when vehicles need attention. Staying on top of maintenance issues helps ensure vehicles run as efficiently as possible.
     

  • Unauthorized vehicle usage burns unnecessary fuel and adds needless wear and tear to vehicles. The live map and geofence functionalities in the Ford Pro Telematics867 Dashboard give fleet managers a bird’s-eye view of how, when and where vehicles are being used so they can stop waste and curtail out-of-route driving.

     

  • Certain driving habits can impact fuel economy. For example, harsh acceleration and speeding burn more fuel, while gradual acceleration and maintaining a steady speed burn less fuel.1095 Additionally, while some vehicle idling is unavoidable—for instance, when drivers are stopped at red lights—excessive idling releases unnecessary carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Ford Pro Telematics867 puts fleet managers in the driver’s seat from afar. By reviewing driver behavior scorecards, they can train drivers to adopt habits that help limit the amount of pollution their vehicles emit.

     

Fleet managers can set an important example by incorporating sustainable practices into their fleet business, whether that’s adopting EVs or using telematics to monitor and help correct wasteful behavior.

 

Are you ready to begin the process of EV adoption? Explore the commercial incentives your fleet business may be eligible for when electrifying.

Disclosure(s)

  1. 1)

    "Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Protect Communities from Extreme Heat Fueled by the Climate Crisis." The White House. July 11, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/11/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-action-to-protect-communities-from-extreme-heat-fueled-by-the-climate-crisis/

  2. 2)

    "July 2023 Brought Record-High Temperatures, Devastating Floods Across the U.S." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 8, 2023. https://www.noaa.gov/stories/july-2023-brought-record-high-temperatures-devastating-floods-across-us

  3. 3)

    "We Must Stop Fossil Fuel Emissions to Protect Permafrost Ecosystems.” Frontiers in Environmental Scient. June 29, 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.889428/full

  4. 4)

    "Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Updated July 14, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions

  5. 5)

    Based on EPA tailpipe rating. Visit fueleconomy.gov for more information.

  6. 6)

    "Electric Vehicle Myths." EPA. Updated March 1, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths

  7. 7)

    Available on vehicles with embedded modem or equipped with approved plug-in device (PID). May require modem activation. Ford Pro™ Telematics and Ford Pro™ Data Services require a purchased subscription. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features, and access to vehicle data, depend on subscription and compatible cellular network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.

  8. 8)

    "Reducing Air Pollution from Cars." Department of Ecology, State of Washington. https://ecology.wa.gov/Issues-and-local-projects/Education-training/What-you-can-do/Reducing-car-pollution