Ford's Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Leverage Tomorrow.io for Enhanced Urban Air Quality
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Blockchain
- Sensors - Air Pollution Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Cities & Municipalities
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Geofencing
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
Services
- Testing & Certification
About The Customer
Ford is a multinational automaker that has been a pioneer in the automotive industry for over a century. The company is committed to creating great products that contribute to a better world. As part of their commitment to sustainability, Ford has been exploring the potential of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to improve air quality in urban centers. They have been conducting extensive research and testing in cities like London, Cologne, and Valencia, using their Ford Transit vehicles as municipal and commercial fleets. Ford is dedicated to transforming cities with green transportation and is taking significant steps towards a global push for electric vehicles.
The Challenge
Ford embarked on a three-year study to explore the potential of commercial plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in enhancing air quality in urban centers, providing a solution for eco-friendly city transportation. The study involved collecting over 400,000 kilometers of data, using Ford Transit vehicles as municipal and commercial fleets in London, Cologne, and Valencia. The primary objective was to understand how geofencing and blockchain technology could be used in conjunction with electric vehicles to improve urban air quality. The challenge was to find a way to trigger zero-emissions in specific areas, improving air quality where it was most needed.
The Solution
Ford used Tomorrow.io’s air quality data to trigger zero-emissions with a dynamic geofencing pilot in the City of Cologne. The Ford Transit Custom PHEV is the company’s first step in a global push toward electric vehicles. The company realized the massive potential in combining PHEVs with technology like Tomorrow.io to optimize air quality in urban areas. Ford’s geofencing feature can help cities maximize air quality benefits where they are most needed. For example, the vehicle’s zero-emission electric-drive mode can be activated automatically whenever it enters a low‑emission zone, without intervention from the driver. It can also be triggered by an air quality warning from Tomorrow.io’s API.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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