Southern Company is transitioning a portion of its fleet to EVs as part of a pilot program in collaboration with Ford Pro—a project that the energy provider hopes will expand their understanding of the technology and help them to better serve their customers.
The 6-month pilot program involves implementing 200 Ford F-150 Lightnings into the company's 19,700 vehicle fleet, 8,000 of which are other light-duty vehicles. They plan on using insights gleaned from their connected vehicle data and over 150 Ford Pro chargers in order to optimize this new portion of its fleet, building an electrification blueprint for their more than 587,000 business customers.
This pilot aims to leverage the expertise of both companies to address industry-wide barriers in EV adoption while demonstrating the transformative potential of EV fleets in supporting the resilience of the electric grid for both customers and company operations, the company said.
"Southern Company’s primary goal for this pilot is simply to better understand the (EV) technology, customer feedback, and the operational implications of managed charging on electric fleets," explained Lea Clanton, director of innovation and business development for Southern Company. "We want to learn more about how dynamic pricing can influence charging behavior, how managed charging impacts the driver's experience, and what potential grid benefits can be derived."
With the data gathered from firsthand experience, Southern Company aims to determine what changes in charging behavior are needed to maximize fleet efficiency and how software that automates charging schedules can limit grid strain. By understanding fleet charging behavior, they will be better equipped to support their commercial and industrial customers as they transition their own fleets to EVs, the company said.
"Southern Company and its subsidiaries engage in robust and ongoing planning processes that account for ever-evolving projections of load growth," Clanton told Fleet Maintenance. "At the end of the day, our commitment is to reliability for customers."
"This collaboration with Ford Pro exemplifies our commitment to advancing sustainable, grid-supportive transportation solutions," said Hank Adams, Southern Company's SVP of Customer Solutions. "Our collaborative pilot brings together our shared vision for innovative EV fleet programs for customers that not only enhance fleet operations but also contribute to grid resilience, aligning with our mission to build a clean and efficient energy future."
The integration of Ford Pro's VG1 charging software into Southern Company's new fleet vehicles will provide a hands-on opportunity for the companies to test the effect of dynamic rates and demand response capabilities on energy loads and grid operations, with the end goal of developing a roadmap for fleet electrification.
"Ford Pro's collaboration with Southern Company underscores our commitment to delivering integrated solutions that combine smart charging software, charging infrastructure, and connected vehicle data through Ford Pro Intelligence," explained Ananya Gupta, senior product manager at Ford Pro Charging Advanced Energy Management. "By leveraging these advanced technologies, we aim to create a flexible, scalable blueprint for fleet electrification that supports operational efficiency, sustainability goals, and grid benefits for both Southern Company and its subsidiaries' commercial customers."
