Ford plugs in to electric vans in Germany as diesel bans loom
A worker of Ford Germany checks a Streetscooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new manufacturing line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Ford <F.N> is building an electric delivery van in Europe using technology provided by Deutsche Post <DPWGn.DE> startup StreetScooter, as German cities clamp down on diesel emissions.
In the latest such move, a German court on Tuesday ordered Berlin to impose driving bans on older diesel vehicles to cut pollution and conform to European Union standards.
"Manufacturing the StreetScooter WORK XL at our plant in Cologne brings together perfectly Ford's unrivalled expertise in commercial vehicle production along with StreetScooter's strengths as an agile start-up company," Joerg Beyer, managing director, Product Development, Ford of Europe said.
Achim Kampker (L), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of electric delivery van maker StreetScooter GmbH, a subsidiary of German postal and logistics group Deutsche Post DHL and Joerg Beyer, executive director engineering Ford Europe, jointly pose for a picture from a StreetScooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new production line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
Pressure for mainstream manufacturers to accelerate development of zero-emission vehicles has spawned new alliances between tech companies and traditional carmakers.
The new electric van is based on a Ford chassis built in Turkey and equipped with a battery-electric drivetrain and body designed with the help of StreetScooter.
Annual production capacity of the new transit van will reach 3,500 vehicles which will be built at Ford Europe's headquarters in Cologne, Deutsche Post said, adding they will initially be supplied to its DHL Group but will also be offered to third-party customers.
A worker of Ford Germany fixes the engine of a Streetscooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new manufacturing line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
StreetScooter will continue to manufacture smaller vans.
Advances in manufacturing software have allowed Deutsche Post to tap suppliers to design, engineer and test new vehicle concepts without hiring thousands of engineering staff or investing billions in tooling and factories.
The power plug for a Streetscooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit is pictured at Ford's new manufacturing line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
(Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Alexander Smith)
The cockpit and steering wheel of a Streetscooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit is pictured at Ford's new production line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang RattayA worker of Ford Germany points his torch at the electric engine of a StreetScooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new production line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang RattayA worker of Ford Germany checks the engine of a StreetScooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new production line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang RattayA worker of Ford Germany checks the engine of a StreetScooter WORK XL electric van based on a Ford Transit at Ford's new production line in Cologne, Germany October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
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