Charge Around the Globe: Lexie Braves Ford’s Environmental Test Center
Hey, I’m Lexie and I’m currently preparing to go on an epic expedition around the world in the new Ford Explorer. I’m here at the Environmental Test Centre today to learn about how this vehicle is going to be able to handle some of
The different terrains we’re going to be putting it through throughout this journey. So let’s go check it out. Hello. Good morning. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Welcome to the Ford Environmental Test Centre where we prepare our cars for the world. Let’s have a look inside. Great.
Let’s start in the Arctic Circle. Wow, this is crazy. Can we go inside? Of course. Let’s open the fridge. Oh. Whoo hoo hoo! Yeah. Careful. I will be careful. The good thing on an electric vehicle is, you can precondition it when it is connected to the grid while charging.
And the snow is all gone before you start. With no impact to your range. Maximising your range for driving. We have heated seats, so you don’t need to heat the whole interior but yourself with the heated seat, for example. Okay. Wow. It’s crazy. I’m freezing in here. It is.
Let’s go out into the warm. Yeah, let’s do it. Oh. Look at that. That is one of our wind tunnels we are using to test it under different speed conditions. This special rig here is simulating the rain and we test the performance of the wipers at different speeds. Can we go inside?
Definitely we can. Let’s try it out. Let’s do it. So you see the winds. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my God. I think it’s working. And then it’s only 60km/h. Wow. So we can do 250, that is quite a storm then.
And the good thing is with electric vehicles, there is no issue with water ingress. Electric cars are fully waterproof. Approved. Hey. Go into more comfortable temperatures. Good morning, Sascha. Hello. He prepared the dessert for us. After all the snow, the wind and the rain,
I think this is the one that I’m looking forward to the most. Okay. Let’s have a look. We need the sunglasses. Oh, wow. That’s really hot. Well, and this is the Explorer? This is a new Explorer, an early prototype with some prototype parts. And it’s hot in here. It’s definitely hot here. Oh.
And this vehicle is on a on a moving platform. Yes. The vehicle is on a rolling road. Can I take it for a ride? Yes, let’s test it. But in that case, on this drive without using the steering wheel. Oh, all right. The heat affects the range in that way,
That it depends on which comfort level you would like to drive. When you cool it down to 18 degrees, that will have an impact to your range. When you adjust the temperature a bit higher, not to freezing cold, the air conditioning needs less energy and so you have more drive range.
Okay. I have a feeling that’s going to be very important to remember. Yes, especially when you are really in the hot areas, desert like areas. Okay. Wow, That was an incredible experience. Thank you so much again for showing me around. Yeah, it was nice to have you here
And I wish you all the best for your long travel around the world. Thank you so. Much. Bye bye. Bye bye. Wow. I definitely had a lot to learn there in the Environmental Testing Centre, but I still have a feeling there is a lot left to learn. So let’s continue.
In preparation for the adventure of a lifetime, Lexie Limitless (@LexieLimitless) steps inside Ford’s Environmental Test Center in Germany to see the harsh conditions – like the blistering heat – the electric Ford Explorer experiences before it is ready for the world.
#ChargeAroundTheGlobe
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