In a groundbreaking initiative to support the growing shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), Ford Pro and Southern Company have launched a six-month pilot program aimed at delivering a comprehensive electrification blueprint for businesses in the southeastern United States.
With fuel costs rising and EV ownership offering the potential for lower total costs, the region has seen over 100,000 EVs registered across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Recognizing this trend, Atlanta-based Southern Company, a leading energy provider serving over 587,000 businesses, is teaming up with Ford Pro™ to optimize EV adoption strategies for commercial fleets.
The pilot program will utilize more than 200 Ford F-150® Lightning® trucks and over 150 Ford Pro Chargers, including advanced Level 2 AC and Level 3 DC chargers, deployed across Southern Company subsidiaries. The collaboration will focus on improving fleet charging practices, maximizing vehicle uptime, and reducing total costs of ownership.
“This pilot will create a flexible, scalable electric fleet management model that can be readily adopted by others,” said Ananya Gupta, Senior Product Manager at Ford Pro. “At the conclusion of the program, organizations will have a blueprint to successfully navigate the transition to electric vehicles and unlock all their associated benefits.”
Ford Pro Intelligence1 and Ford Pro Charging Software2 will play a key role in the project, offering advanced data collection and analytics. These tools will help optimize energy usage, particularly during peak demand periods, through demand response curtailment strategies. The pilot aims to not only refine Southern Company’s fleet operations but also enable them to guide their commercial and industrial customers through their own EV transitions.
The results of this program promise to set a precedent, providing businesses with the tools and knowledge to adopt EVs and build scalable, cost-effective charging operations.
