In February 2024, eight Planet Forward students visited Ford Motor Company’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on a reporting trip to check in with Ford engineers and staff on the progress of EV manufacturing and adoption. The students flew in from Pillar and Consortium schools across the country, including George Washington University SUNY-ESF, University of Arizona, Middlebury College, Tuskegee University, and Howard University.

On a chilly morning in Dearborn, Michigan, the students were guided through Ford’s largest production plant and later toured the Ford Vehicle Performance and Electrification Center where Ford’s latest batteries undergo rigorous trials and testing.

The Just Transition to electric vehicles is a global commitment with far reaching ripple effects on water conservation in auto manufacturing, public health, supply chains, and electrical grids. The stories in this series will not only explore such topics, but also dive into the concerns and motivations of consumers who may be considering purchasing their first EV’s.

Editor’s Note: Ford Motor Company made this series possible by providing support and access to Planet Forward’s student journalists. All editorial content is created independently. We thank Ford Motor Company for their support of our project.