Ford’s Marin Gjaja defined that almost all drivers don’t understand the key perks of driving an EV. Not solely is it extra environment friendly, however it additionally provides further advantages like skipping the strains on the gasoline station with the flexibility to cost at residence.
Ford says driving an EV provides extra perks
On the Automotive Information Congress, Marin Gjaja, COO of Ford’s Mannequin e EV enterprise, mentioned one of many firm’s important priorities is tackling false beliefs about electrical automobiles.
“That’s the conundrum for us as an trade,” Gjaja mentioned in Michigan on Tuesday. He added, “Now we have prospects who’re fearing loss and misperceive the worth” of EVs.
Ford is working with its sellers to coach prospects with instruments like Ford College to counter EV misperceptions. Launched in Might, Ford’s new device is a digital and video-based seller coaching platform with video games and AI to coach staff and consumers.
Based on Gjaja, automakers should handle the “financial challenges” because the trade shifts to electrical automobiles. To take action, educating prospects in regards to the true perks of driving an EV is vital.
Gjaja defined that EVs include extra advantages, like waking up with a full cost each day and the flexibility to cost at residence. Many electrical automobiles, like Ford’s F-150 Lightning, may act as moveable mills with added features like vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging with bidirectional capabilities.
Lightning drivers have used their electrical pickups to energy residence home equipment and different electronics throughout hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and different excessive climate occasions. It can be used to energy up your subsequent tenting journey or work website.
Overcoming hurdles within the shift to electrical
Ford offered almost 9,000 electrical automobiles within the US final month. By means of the primary eight months of 2024, Ford’s EV gross sales reached 61,366, up 57.6% from the identical interval final yr.
Nevertheless, Ford has delayed a number of EV tasks, citing “slower-than-expected” adoption. Ford additionally scrapped plans to launch its three-row electrical SUV and is specializing in smaller, extra worthwhile fashions.
Ford has a devoted workforce of ex-Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and Apple staff in California creating its new low-cost EV platform. The primary car, a mid-size electrical pickup, is anticipated to launch in 2027.
“Being reasonably priced is nice, however there are two different necessities,” Gjaja defined. One is that it must be distinctive, or “you’re going to get commoditized,” and the opposite is that “you additionally need to generate income.”
Ford’s EV unit misplaced $2.5 billion within the first half of the yr and is on monitor to lose between $5 and $5.5 billion in 2024.
The corporate is betting on extra reasonably priced EVs and a software-defined expertise to show issues round over the subsequent few years.
Electrek’s Take
Many drivers don’t understand the precise advantages of driving an EV till they personal one. Nevertheless, the primary time you drive it, you’ll discover the numerous improve it provides over gas-powered automobiles.
The journey is sort of silent and far smoother. With on the spot torque, you don’t have to fret about lagging when pulling out into visitors.
Most EVs have superior software program and connectivity and are a lot smarter than conventional gas-powered vehicles. And that’s not even together with the decrease value of possession with much less upkeep and never being topic to fluctuating gasoline costs. Plus, waking up with a full cost each day is value it alone. And one of the best half is you may roll your home windows down on a pleasant day and never odor fixed fumes (provided that you’re subsequent to a gas-powered automotive).
Supply: Ford, Automotive Information