Like most major corporations, Ford Motor Co. has put together an ambitious program to achieve its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. On the ecological front, the Detroit-based automotive giant claims to be “on track to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2050 across its vehicles, operations, and supply chain.”
Ford says it is also on track to reach its targeted yearly production run rate of 600,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of this year and more than 2 million by the end of 2026. By 2030, Ford expects half of its worldwide vehicle sales volume to be EVs.
Photo Courtesy Ford
But the automaker’s ESG program isn’t limited to major corporate initiatives. Ford recently took steps on a smaller scale to use its vehicles for social and environmental good.
In July, Ford completed the first delivery of electric pickup trucks to the U.S. Army as part of an effort by the military to transition away from gas-powered vehicles, “CBT News” reported. The delivery included 25 Ford F-150 Lightning trucks that were dropped off at Fort Carson in Colorado.
According to “CBT News,” Ford expects to build “many more electric pickups” in the future as the U.S. military embarks on a four-year program to replace its gas-powered work fleet with battery-powered units.
On a broader scale, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to make the armed forces carbon-neutral by 2050. At Fort Carson, the public works department will use the new Ford Lightning pickups to handle maintenance work and to inspect construction sites on the base, “Inside EVs” reported.
One challenge has been convincing the military that electric trucks can perform as good or better than their gas-powered counterparts. So far, the EVs have performed well, according to Joe Wyka, Fort Carson’s director of public works.
“The feedback’s been very positive,” Wyka said in an interview with The Gazette. “I think a lot of people are skeptical until they actually drive one.”
The Fort Carson electric truck delivery came a couple of weeks after Ford said it would donate a customized Bronco SUV to help coordinate firefighting crews across rough terrain in New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument.
The donation, made through Ford’s Bronco Wild Fund, will equip units with advanced communications gear to create a “go-anywhere wildland firefighting command rig,” according to a June 30 press release.
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The Bronco was modified by Darley, which makes defense, fire, and rescue vehicles. It’s the kind of vehicle that can navigate the unforgiving terrain found at Bandelier National Monument, which features a mix of canyons and mesas.
According to Ford, the park has a “history of natural fire occurrences” and has been experiencing more of them as fire seasons grow longer. A drone is included in the modified Bronco that features live feed screens, a tablet computer, and special software, all of which should improve aerial surveillance, detection capabilities, and situational awareness.
Photo Courtesy Ford
“Over the last 20 years, warmer temperatures and stronger winds have resulted in bigger fires that are harder to predict and manage,” Patrick Suddath, superintendent of Bandelier National Monument, said in a statement. “These more resource-intensive fires have a real impact on Bandelier’s firefighting corps, and this donation will help us manage fires better. It will also help to minimize impact to the park’s affiliated Tribes, who have traditionally used park land for cultural, economic, and spiritual reasons.”
