Ford Motor Company’s 2020 sustainability report outlines the legacy automaker’s plans to become carbon neutral by 2050. In a bid to establish itself as a green automaker with a goal that would lessen its contribution to global climate issues, Ford chose a conservative route. of a challenge that would help the strong drive of the transport sector towards sustainability.
Tesla’s path to green transportation began long before Elon Musk’s 2006 draft known as the “Master plan.Musk knew that CO2 emissions threatened the rise of the Earth and that a change was necessary. Fourteen years later, Tesla ranks at the top of the automotive world as the leader in electromobility, arguably the company that made legacy automakers rethink a business model focused on gas machines that are damaging the Earth. and its atmosphere.
A company with a short but rich history like Tesla realized that the problem was here before the first Roadster left the production lines. However, Ford, a company that recently celebrated its 117th birthday, doesn’t seem to recognize the issues at hand, pushing a date for its sustainability goals that is 30 years into the future.
Addressing the impact of climate change is a prominent human rights issue and a strategic priority for Ford. That is why we are working to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with tentative targets to keep us on track. Find out what drives us further in our annual #sustainability report.
– Ford Motor Company (@Ford) June 24, 2020
In 2018, Ford sold the most vehicles on Earth with 2.38 million units, according to EVadoption.com. However, the company can only attribute .39% of its total sales to its electric cars, which at the time only represented the Ford Focus EV. Although the company plans to unveil its Mustang Mach-E, a fully electric version of the F-150 pickup, and three other models in the coming years, it appears to be very little, but it’s not too late.
Ford’s first step in moving toward sustainability is to introduce an all-electric fleet well before 2050. Thirty years is too long as other automakers, like Volkswagen, are injecting billions of dollars into plans that involve making a line. of vehicles with batteries and not powered by combustion. Ultimately, the effort is based on recognizing the problem that gas transportation gives to the environment, and Ford has to realize that its goal is too far. Change is necessary now.
However, not everything is bad. Ford plans to use locally sourced renewable energy for all manufacturing plants globally by 2035. This effort bodes well for the company’s mission and will undoubtedly help Ford move towards carbon neutrality.
The question is: where is the urgency? Several countries around the world have already announced their intentions to phase out fossil fuels. Of the fourteen that have announced gasoline vehicle bans, only one has a goal for 2050: Costa Rica.
Many of the places are considering 2025, 2030, or 2040 as the year that gasoline and diesel machines will no longer be allowed. If Ford doesn’t adopt a faster deadline, it could spell trouble for the automaker in these places, which include large, dense auto markets like China, Germany, India, and Spain.
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular, and Tesla is leading the charge. The company has inspired many automakers to embrace its style with minimalism and its focus on sustainability. Many companies have joined the idea, setting lofty goals that will accelerate the switch from gas to batteries. However, Ford is treating its sustainability plan as a way to enlist the support of a growing community, and not as a way to quickly decrease its carbon footprint.
It’s an emergency, Ford, and it’s time to start acting like this.
Joey Klender’s 2020 Ford Sustainability Report on Scribd
