Photo of the Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in London courtesy of Ford.

Photo of the Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in London courtesy of Ford.

Ford has expanded global testing of its Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to Valencia, Spain to see how it see how it can contribute to cleaner air targets and enhanced productivity for fleets.

The focus in the Spanish city will be more regarding the use of small and medium fleets of Transit Custom PHEVs that are driven solely by an electric motor with a zero-emission target range of more than 31 miles (50 kilometres), Ford said in a release. The PHEVs 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine serves as a range extender, as a means to help reduce range anxiety by charging the on-board batteries when longer trips are required.

The test is taking place through a collaboration between Ford Smart Mobility, the regional government of Valencia, and the Valencia City leadership, according to the automaker. 

Ford already began investigating how the PHEVs could help in London by providing 20 of the Transit Custom PHEV vans to several fleets in the city for a 12-month test trial. Customers ranged from the Metropolitan Police to courier services and construction firms.

Ford has invested more than $3 billlion (€2.9 billion) in Valencia since 2011, and in November 2017 Ford announced investment of more than $889 million (€750 million) in its Valencia vehicle operations to build the next generation Ford Kuga.

Ford’s partnerships reflects an investment of $11 billion that Ford is making in its electrified portfolio to include 40 electrified vehicles globally, including 16 full battery electric vehicles by 2022, the automaker said in a release.


Related: Spartan to Reveal Ford Transit for Utility Fleets

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