Ford has secured a deal with Ecolab, a Minnesota-based company specializing in water conservation and hygiene, to sell over 1,000 of its electric vehicles (EVs). This agreement marks a significant step in Ecolab’s goal to electrify its entire North American fleet by 2030, and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
The deal involves the purchase of Ford’s F-150 Lightning Pro and Mustang Mach-E, which will transform Ecolab’s sales and service fleet in California. Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle arm of Ford, will supply these vehicles, with more than 550 Lightnings designated as maintenance trucks and approximately 450 Mustang Mach-Es assigned to the Ecolab sales team.
The company said they chose the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E for their efficiency and suitability for commercial use.
From a financial perspective, Ecolab anticipates significant savings from this shift to EVs. The company expects to reduce annual fuel costs by approximately 50% per vehicle, estimating savings of around $1,400 per vehicle annually based on average mileage and fuel prices.
The EVs are scheduled to be built in 2024 and deployed by the company in early 2025. When they hit the road next year, it is expected to be the largest all-electric sales and service fleet in California.
This partnership between the two companies is not new, with Ford and Ecolab having shared a business relationship dating back to 1925. Over the years, this partnership has resulted in 95% of Ecolab’s North American fleet, which exceeds 10,000 light-duty vehicles, being Ford vehicles.
While Ford has secured a deal to sell over 1,000 of its EVs to a company, the automaker is struggling to sell them to consumers. Ford recently launched a rental program to help deal with the over 17,000 Mach-Es sitting on dealers lots across the US. Meanwhile, the automaker has cut Lightning production by 50% for 2024, citing weaker than expected demand.
