Today marks the release of the 17th annual Ford Sustainability Report, which itself marks the launch of a new pilot program that will seek to use that automaker’s available mobility resources to provide necessary goods and services in rural South Africa and Nigeria.
The Ford Better World Project will unite the automaker with organizations and social entrepreneurs to provide things like health education, medication, and nutrition to people in need in otherwise remote areas. Two specially-modified Ford Rangers will operate as mobile clinics in South Africa, providing services and medicine for adults and children alike. The Rangers will be fitted with connectivity technology, which includes a dual-battery management system that will enable to trucks to power equipment.
In Nigeria, Ford is teaming with Riders for Help to help ensure the long-term maintenance of its vehicles. Riders for Help’s motorcycles, four-wheeled vehicles, and trucks will be prepped for data collection via sensors and Ford’s OpenXC technology, with the resulting information being used to help RfH improve the logistics of their operations.
“At Ford, we are looking beyond the traditional role vehicles play in society and are aggressively pursuing solutions to address the human challenges faced around the globe,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman. “Those challenges take us to remote areas where we can use advanced vehicle and connectivity technologies to change people’s lives and make the world a better place.”
The 2015-16 Ford Sustainability Report points out the company’s goals for the future and accomplishments from the past year, including the establishment of the Ford Smart Mobility LLC subsidiary, A rating from the CDP for water conservation, and the reach of its ongoing Ford Driving Skills for Life program. The entire report is available at http://corporate.ford.com/microsites/sustainability-report-2015-16/index.html.
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