Ford Pro Intelligence is expanding its telematics offerings to fleets with free data services for gas- and electric-powered commercial vehicles. Gas-powered Fords with an activated modem on board will get access to the Telematics Essentials for the vehicle’s life. A separate telematics system designed for battery-electric vehicles will be free for three years, the OEM announced on Nov. 11.
Ford Pro Telematics Essentials offers fleets web-based access to vehicle health data, including odometer readings, diagnostic trouble codes, information on oil life, engine hours, and recalls, all things that the OEM said would help fleets boost uptime and productivity. Ford Pro E-Telematics comes out on the heels of Ford launching battery-electric vehicles, such as E-Transit van and F-150 Lightning Pro pickup truck, for commercial fleets.
“No matter how big or small a commercial fleet may be—and whether it’s fully electric or not—vehicle data plays an important role in improving uptime and efficiency,” said Brent West, general manager of Ford Pro Intelligence. “Both Ford Pro E-Telematics and Ford Pro Telematics Essentials provide key information and abilities to fleet managers through an intuitive interface—at no additional charge.”
Along with offering fleet managers instant data on vehicles, Ford Pro Telematics Essentials shares trackable maintenance alerts. It will relay warning lights so that managers can resolve issues faster, improve uptime, and potentially avoid more costly repairs. This information is conveyed to fleet operators through an online dashboard to show where a fleet stands without relying on drivers to report issues.
Ford commercial customers can go online now to enroll in the service—which is complimentary for the life of their Ford vehicles—by going to this online signup page.
In its announcement, the OEM said it would continue to improve the Ford Pro Telematics Essentials offerings. In October, Ford introduced the ability for fleet managers to search for dealers and schedule maintenance services via a link from the telematics dashboard once they have been alerted that a vehicle needs service.
Ford Pro for EVs
For fleets making the shift to battery-electric-powered Ford vehicles, such as the E-Transit and F-150 Lightning Pro, the OEM offers Ford Pro E-Telematics free for three years. This data system version is designed to help manage electric vehicle fleets and effectively control energy use costs with charging insights.
With the e-telematics system, fleet managers get an online dashboard that shows electric vehicle battery range, charger locations, state of charge, and energy consumption. It also sends notifications and alerts to fleet managers to help make sure vehicles are charged and ready to go.
Ford Pro E-Telematics is designed to maximize run time with scheduled vehicle preconditioning while vehicles are connected to the grid. This allows drivers to bring their vehicle’s cabin to the desired temperature while still plugged in. The feature helps preserve battery charge for when it is needed most: on the road. Additionally, customers can use the platform to pay for public charging events centrally and reimburse employees for home charging—all designed with fraud protection in mind.
Ford Pro Intelligence is part of Ford Pro, a global vehicle services and distribution business designed to help increase uptime and reduce ownership costs for commercial customers. Formerly known as Ford Commercial Solutions, Ford Pro Intelligence is committed to delivering digital services with distinct, integrated features that help enable customers to better manage and maintain their fleets.
Customers interested in accessing more advanced capabilities can upgrade to the Ford Pro Telematics subscription service, which offers more productivity features. Those features include GPS tracking, driver behavior insights, support for non-Ford commercial vehicles, a mobile driver app, and more.
Activated Ford vehicle modems, which run on the AT&T network, are required for access to the telematics systems. Ford offers embedded modems or plug-in devices for access.