Ford will expand its testing of plug-in hybrid electric vans from London to Valencia, Spain. The collaboration between Ford Smart Mobility, the regional government of Valencia and the Valencia City leadership, is designed to see how Transit Custom PHEV fleets could contribute to cleaner air targets and enhanced productivity.

Ford’s partnerships with the Generalitat Valenciana and the city of Valencia not only complements testing in London (earlier post), but reflects an investment of $11 billion that Ford is making in its electrified portfolio to include 40 electrified vehicles globally, including 16 full battery electric vehicles by 2022.

The focus in the Spanish city will be more regarding the use of small and medium fleets of Transit Custom PHEVs that are driven solely by an electric motor with a zero-emission target range of more than 50 kilometres (31 miles). The award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine serves as a range extender.

Scheduled for volume production in 2019, the Transit PHEV project reaffirms Ford’s commitment to Spain and Valencia as one of its most important manufacturing locations in Europe. Ford has invested more than €2.9 billion in Valencia since 2011, and in November 2017 Ford announced investment of more than €750 million in its Valencia Vehicle Operations to build the next generation Ford Kuga.

Equipped with telematics and geofencing technology, 20 Transit Custom PHEV vans are being used for the 12-month trial in London that Ford launched earlier this year, working with Transport for London and a variety of fleet customers, ranging from the Metropolitan Police to courier services and construction firms.