3/30/22

The All-Electric 2022 Ford E-Transit™ Is Ready | Ford Pro™​


Our all-electric 2022 Ford E-Transit™ van is ready for the challenges your business takes on. Available with Ford Pro™ E-Telematics,* where you can monitor things like range and help maximize run times, along with upfitting configurations based on your business needs, the E-Transit will be the workhorse of your fleet. So let Ford Pro electrify your fleet- giving you the ability to focus on the work that matters most. Ford Pro. A productivity accelerator for your business. *Eligible vehicles receive a complimentary 3-year trial of E-Telematics services that begins on the new vehicle warranty start date. Requires modem activation. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features, and access to vehicle data depend on compatible AT&T network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features. After the 3- year trial, annual service contract is required for E-Telematics service. Call 1-833-811-3673 to activate E-Telematics service.

3/28/22

Best Car Safety Features | Consumer Reports


There are many ways to prevent car accidents. Consumer Reports looks at the latest technology designed to save people’s lives. Check out https://www.ConsumerReports.org
for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1Nlb1Ez


3/26/22

Driving Tips for Wet Roads


Wet pavement contributes to over 1 million crashes each year! Here are AAA's tips if you're caught driving in the rain. www.aaa.com/safety


3/24/22

Keeping Your Car (and Truck) Sensors Clean | Consumer Reports


Today's cars come with cutting edge technology designed to help keep you safe. Consumer Reports' expert explains how these revolutionary innovations can stop working with one simple thing: dirt.

3/22/22

Ask An Expert - Towing and Hauling Tips with Mark Hellwig


Hellwig Suspension Products CEO, Mark Hellwig has been in the load and sway control business his whole life. Over the years he has learned a few things about towing and hauling.

Mark shares a few tips and pieces of advice for proper and safe towing and hauling in this video.

3/20/22

A.R.E. DoubleCover - Unique Truck Bed Cover That Lifts And Retracts - Quick Overview


The A.R.E. DoubleCover truck bed cover. The Industry's first and only truck bed cover that lifts up for quick access and retracts for full bed access. Learn more at: https://www.4are.com/#

3/18/22

NEW STUDY FINDS GREATER GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS FOR PICKUP TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION THAN FOR OTHER LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES


  •  A University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company study evaluates the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline-powered pickup trucks as part of the decarbonization of the transportation industry.
  • Sedan, SUV, and pickup truck battery-electric vehicles have approximately 64% lower cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles on average across the United States.
  • Replacing an internal-combustion-engine pickup with a battery-electric pickup results in a reduction of 74 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the lifetime of the vehicle on average.
  • While battery-electric vehicles currently have larger greenhouse gas emissions in their manufacturing than internal-combustion-engine vehicles, due to battery production, this impact is offset by savings in their operation.

Major automotive manufacturers are ramping up the production of electric trucks as a key strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their fleets. Light-duty vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and pickup trucks, are currently responsible for 58% of U.S. transportation sector emissions. Pickup trucks accounted for 14% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States in 2020, and the market share of both pickups and SUVs has grown in recent years.

But what does pickup truck electrification mean for the decarbonization of the transportation industry?

University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company researchers addressed this question in a new study and evaluated the savings in greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline-powered pickup trucks.

Researchers found that light-duty, battery-electric vehicles have approximately 64% lower cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles on average across the United States.

“This is an important study to inform and encourage climate action. Our research clearly shows substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions that can be achieved from transitioning to electrified powertrains across all vehicle classes,” said study senior author Greg Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems.

“This study can help us to understand the potential impact of electrification from an emissions-reduction perspective, particularly as we introduce new electric vehicles, and how we can continue to accelerate our progress towards carbon neutrality. We’re proud to partner with U-M in this critical work,” said Cynthia Williams, global director of sustainability, homologation and compliance at Ford.

In the study, researchers conducted a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of pickup trucks and compared the implications of pickup truck electrification to those of sedan and SUV electrification.

With a focus on evaluating greenhouse gas emissions, researchers looked at three different model year 2020 powertrain options—internal-combustion-engine vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles—for midsize sedans, midsize SUVs, and full-size pickup trucks, accounting for differences in fuel economy, annual mileage, vehicle production, and vehicle lifetime across vehicle classes.

“This study expands upon previous studies that have focused on comparing battery-electric vehicle sedans to their internal-combustion-engine or hybrid counterparts,” said Keoleian. “We report emissions for vehicle production, use, and end-of-life stages on a per-mile basis and over the total vehicle lifetime. In addition, we analyzed the regional variation in emissions considering differences in electricity grid mixes and ambient temperatures, and we also explored the effects of the rate of grid decarbonization on emission reduction.” 

The study offers key findings. Researchers, for instance, found that switching an internal-combustion-engine vehicle to a battery-electric vehicle results in greater total tonnage of emissions reductions as the vehicle size increases, due to the greater fuel consumption of larger vehicles. “Though the percentage savings is approximately the same across vehicle classes, on average replacing an internal-combustion-engine sedan with a battery-electric sedan saves 45 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, replacing an internal-combustion-engine SUV with a battery-electric SUV saves 56 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and replacing an internal-combustion-engine pickup with a battery-electric pickup saves 74 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent over the lifetime of the vehicles,” said study first author and Center for Sustainable Systems Research Specialist Max Woody. 

The researchers also found that battery-electric vehicles have larger greenhouse gas emissions in their manufacturing than internal-combustion-engine vehicles, due to battery production, but this impact is offset by savings in their operation. For battery-electric vehicles and internal-combustion-engine vehicles, the breakeven time is 1.2 to 1.3 years for sedans, 1.4 to 1.6 years for SUVs, and 1.3 years for pickup trucks, based on the average U.S. grid and vehicle miles traveled.

Vehicle emissions vary across the country, as different temperatures and different drive cycles affect a vehicle’s fuel economy. For electric vehicles, the emissions intensity of the local electricity grid is also an important factor. The study developed maps to show the lifetime grams of carbon dioxide equivalent/mile for each powertrain (internal-combustion-engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles) and vehicle type (sedan, SUV, and pickup truck) by county across the United States. Researchers found that concerns about battery-electric vehicles having higher emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles or hybrids are largely unfounded, as battery-electric vehicles outperform hybrids in 95% to 96% of counties, while battery-electric vehicles outperform internal-combustion-engine vehicles in 98% to 99% of counties, even assuming only modest progress towards grid decarbonization.

Charging strategies can further reduce battery-electric vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that charging during the hours of the day with the lowest grid emissions intensity can reduce emissions by 11% on average. “Deployment of electric vehicles and expansion of renewable energy resources like solar and wind should be done at the same time; the benefit of each is increased by the development of the other,” said Woody.

The study, “The role of pickup truck electrification in the decarbonization of light-duty vehicles,” was published online March 1 in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The other authors of the study are Parth Vaishnav of the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and Center for Sustainable Systems and Robert De Kleine, Hyung Chul Kim, James E. Anderson, and Timothy J. Wallington of Ford Motor Company’s Research and Innovation Center.

This study was supported by Ford Motor Company through a Ford-University of Michigan Alliance Project Award.
 

Click here for more information.

 

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.  The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers.  Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles:  Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles.  The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  Ford employs about 183,000 people worldwide.  More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com.

3/16/22

Tire Blow Out Reaction Tips


Tires are the most important part of your vehicle and unexpected blows outs happen almost everyday! Watch this video to find out the two key steps to keep you safe in the event of a tire blow out.

3/10/22

Stop. Trains Can't.


The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have launched a national railroad crossing safety ad campaign to increase public awareness around railroad tracks and reduce crossing deaths and injuries. Although accidents at railroad crossings are an old problem, the problem is easily avoidable. This ad is the latest in a three-year, focused effort to reverse the uptick in railroad crossing fatalities. Its message is simple: Stop. Trains can’t.

For more information, please visit: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/rail-grade-crossing/stop-trains-cant.

3/08/22

F-150 Lightning: Cold Testing the Lightning in Alaska | F-150 | Ford


We took the Ford F-150® Lightning™ to Delta Junction, Alaska for testing in the brutal cold. Eleven Ford Engineers put the F-150 Lightning through the paces for 14 days straight. Watch to see how the Lightning stood up to the challenge. Learn more about the Ford F-150 Lightning here: https://ford.to/3hzCSqg

3/06/22

Drivetrains 101 | Consumer Reports


A car’s drivetrain is how you get power from the engine to the wheels. Consumer Reports’ expert explains the difference between front-wheel, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel, and four-wheel drive.

3/04/22

TOUGHEST, MOST PRODUCTIVE FORD F-150 DELIVERS WITH BEST-IN-CLASS TOWING AND PAYLOAD, MOST F-150 TORQUE EVER


All-new 2021 Ford F-150 delivers where it counts with available maximum tow rating** of 14,000 pounds and available maximum payload* of 3,325 pounds, F-150 out-tows and out-hauls any other light-duty, full-size pickup
  • Available 3.5-liter PowerBoost™ full hybrid powertrain for 2021 Ford F-150 produces power with purpose – 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque, the most torque ever in an F-150 with available Pro Power Onboard™ providing up to 18 times more exportable power than the nearest competitor. Optional 5.0-liter V8 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 see increases to both power and torque
  • Customer-focused design results in a more productive, more connected F-150, with standard over-the-air updates, touch screens, and Ford Co-Pilot360™ technology and available Interior Work Surface, Tailgate Work Surface and class-exclusive Max Recline Seats
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 29, 2020 – With 43 years of F-Series reigning as best-selling truck in America, the all-new Ford F-150 continues to set standards – No other full-size light-duty pickup can match its maximum conventional towing* or payload**, and no other truck provides the electrified power and capability of the available 3.5-liter PowerBoost™ full hybrid offering the most horsepower and torque in the F-150 lineup.

“F-150 is the flagship of Ford’s dedication to building the best trucks and represents our commitment to not just meeting customer needs but exceeding them,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “With capability and functionality foundational to F-Series, the all-new F-150 not only tows more and hauls more than any other light-duty full-size pickup, it is built to surpass customer expectations with smart innovations that will make them even more productive every day.”

The all-new F-150 brings features like available Pro Power Onboard, Interior Work Surface, Pro Trailer Backup Assist and a Tailgate Work Surface, plus advanced driver-assist and connectivity technology. Standard over-the-air updates keep F-150 at the forefront of technology, while its all-new interior is designed to be comfortable, useful and connected.

Tow more, haul more, get more done

The 2021 F-150 is built on a fully boxed high-strength steel frame with a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body and box. When equipped with the proven available 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 and Max Trailer Tow Package, F-150 is rated for more conventional towing than any light-duty full-size pickup – a maximum 14,000 pounds, a gain of 800 pounds over the 2020 model.

PowerBoost full hybrid trucks are rated at a maximum of 12,700 pounds of conventional towing – the most towing ever offered by any full hybrid pickup. Maximum payload increases to 3,325 pounds – more than 1,000 pounds over F-150’s closest full-size light-duty competitor – with gains across most trim levels and configurations. PowerBoost-equipped trucks debut with a maximum payload of 2,120 pounds for the Crew Cab 4x2 model with 6.5-foot box.

New kind of power

The all-new class-exclusive 3.5-liter PowerBoost full hybrid is the most powerful option in the F-150 lineup, making 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque. Not only does this powertrain deliver the most torque ever in an F-150, its standard Pro Power Onboard brings unmatched exportable power, 2.4 kilowatts of standard power and an available 7.2 kilowatts – enough to power 28 average refrigerators.

F-150’s 5.0-liter V8 gets a bump of 5 horsepower and 10 lb.-ft. of torque, to 400 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft., while the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is now rated at 400 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. – a jump of 25 horsepower and 30 lb.-ft. of torque. With six engine options all paired with the Ford-designed and assembled 10-speed automatic transmission, there’s an F-150 for every job, every budget and every hardworking customer. 

Technology and innovation that count

The all-new F-150 adds technology that works to improve towing convenience and driver confidence. It is the only light-duty full size pickup with available Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance. New Trailer Reverse Guidance uses the truck’s high-resolution cameras to provide multiple views along with helpful graphics that tell drivers which way to turn the steering wheel when backing up. Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a dial.

F-150 provides customer-focused features including standard 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi hotspot, new standard tailgate clamp pockets, available Interior Work Surface, available Tailgate Work Surface, available Ford Co-Pilot360™ 2.0 and available class-exclusive Max Recline Seats.

The all-new 2021 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall. It is proudly built and assembled in America at Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.

 * F-150 Regular Cab, 8-foot box, 4x2 with available 5.0L V8 engine and Max Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Payload Packages
** F-150 SuperCab 8’ box and SuperCrew 4x2 with available 3.5L EcoBoost and Max Trailer Tow Package

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services.  Ford employs approximately 188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.