This is the kind of technology that can make trucks and vans greener. The best way to save fuel is not to make the trip, or to take a shorter route. This is great stuff from Ford!
Along with their Synch technology in the Fusion and other cars I think Ford are taking the lead in buildign cars for the future.
Sprint and Ford team up for productivity
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: Tuesday, 24. March 2009
Equipped with In-Dashboard PC with Internet Connectivity via the Sprint Nationwide Mobile Broadband Network, Ford's new 2009 F-Series and E-Series vehicles will be the ultimate in automotive workplace connectedness and productivity tools.
The F series of trucks and the E series of Vans (Econoline) will feature a 4-gigabyte computer mounted in the dash, a bright, high-resolution 6.5" screen and a wireless keyboard. A USB port and an SD memory card slot will enable files to be loaded or backed up. Prints can be made on a Ford-certified, Bluetooth�-enabled wireless inkjet printer.
The ultra-connected vehicles are a product of an agreement between Ford Motor Company and Sprint, which is a leading provider of wireless services through cell phones and WiFi.
Sprint will play a leading role in providing a 'solution suite' of wirelessly enabled technologies to the Ford Work Solutions to be featured in the F- and E-series vehicles, and also in the Ford Transit Connect, a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and soon to be imported into North America.
The Transit Connect is Ford's answer to the need for a smaller, more economical van which still has sufficient space for tradesmen and maintenance people. For the moment, Ford will skip the diesel version in North America but its 2-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine is reckoned to provide about 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. It is expected on the U.S. market this summer.
Ford Work Solutions includes broadband internet, Garmin GPS navigation with traffic, weather and routing information, information about local services, hands-free phone with voice recognition calling, text messaging.
Of special interest to trades people who have to carry tools and other equipment is the Tool Link� feature, which tracks tools and other items using the same Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology used in shops and warehouses.
The items are tagged with RFID devices and then scanned in to a systems database. A pair of RFID antennas inside the vehicle scans for tagged items. The result is displayed on the in-dash Computer screen. An alert is given if any inventoried item has not been loaded on the truck. It will even be possible to make lists of items needed for particular jobs and then scan to ensure that they are all on board before setting out on the job.
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prndl,
