Ford started mass production of the new all-electric Explorer at its first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) facility in Europe following a $2 billion investment that has transformed a historic plant into a factory of the future.
The electric Explorer is the first vehicle to roll off the line at the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center - a significant step on the road to producing a new generation of high-quality electric passenger vehicles for the region. A second EV, a new sports crossover, will be revealed shortly with production in Cologne starting later this year.
The new Explorer combines German engineering, American attitude and superior standard specification that includes battery electric powertrains for zero-tailpipe emissions while driving - and more than 600 km driving range on a single charge.
The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center is
equipped with cutting-edge AI and a symphony of hundreds of carefully
choreographed state-of-the-art robots that will deliver a new generation
of high quality EVs to Ford customers in Europe. The plant’s “digital
twin” monitors and supports production line operators to deliver high
quality standards.
The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center is
supported by self-learning machines and more than 600 new robots that
execute welding, cutting, dusting, painting and fusing tasks, in a
complex ballet to ensure precision, efficiency and quality.
A new
control centre monitors the entire assembly process in real time -
right down to the quantity of every part and nut at each workstation.
The plant’s “digital twin” is displayed via a giant touchscreen
containing all workstations with information on tooling, material
delivery, work safety and more. With small touchscreens employees on the
line provide further information on the status of their workplace.
The
Cologne Electric Vehicle Center is one of Ford’s most efficient vehicle
assembly plants globally, supported by significant reductions in
emissions, water usage and energy consumption.
Ford is working
towards implementing a carbon neutrality pathway for the Cologne
Electric Vehicle Center. With production now underway, greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions data will be monitored and recorded for independent
certification according to the latest international standards. Within
this carbon neutrality pathway, Ford will continuously improve carbon
efficiency and reduce GHG emissions towards a residual level.
In
addition to initiatives that reduce emissions, water usage and energy
consumption, all electricity and natural gas required to operate the
plant is 100 percent certified renewable electricity and biomethane.
Ford is targeting carbon neutrality across its European production
footprint of facilities, logistics and direct suppliers by 2035.
