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Virtual Engine Hours for Ford OEM-integrated Vehicles

Updated

Introduction

The Virtual Engine Hours feature for Ford OEM-integrated vehicles ensures engine hours remain available and reliable even when Ford’s OEM API does not provide a direct engine hours signal. When Ford data is missing or incomplete, Motive will now calculate lifetime engine hours from Ford’s trip and engine-on information so fleets can continue to receive a value for engine hours for maintenance, utilization, and reporting.

Note: 

  • This feature is currently limited to Ford OEM vehicles only. Existing behavior for Motive hardware (Vehicle Gateways, AI Dashcams, etc.) is unchanged.
  • There is no additional cost or separate add-on subscription required. This feature is automatically enabled for all organizations with an active Ford Pro integration.

 

What’s New?

  • Virtual engine hours for Ford OEM vehicles: When Ford’s API does not send engine hours for a supported vehicle, Motive calculates engine hours based on OEM trip and engine-on data.
  • OEM-first logic: When Ford does send valid engine hours, Motive always uses the OEM value first and does not override it with a virtual value.
  • Clear experience in the Fleet Dashboard: Engine hours for Ford OEM-integrated vehicles are available in the Fleet Dashboard even when direct engine hours are not provided by Ford, reducing gaps across a mixed fleet.
  • Admin override baseline: Fleet admins can adjust engine hours baselines if needed directly in the vehicle profile, ensuring calculations stay close to real-world readings. 
     

How does this feature help users?

  • More complete data for OEM-only fleets: Engine hours continue to be available for Ford OEM-integrated vehicles even when Ford does not send a direct signal.
  • Better maintenance and planning: With more reliable engine hours, fleets can build and maintain accurate preventive maintenance schedules and engine-based utilization reporting.
  • Consistent experience across assets: OEM-integrated Ford vehicles behave more like hardware-connected assets from a data-availability standpoint, reducing confusion for mixed fleets.
     

Rollout Plan or Feature Go-Live Date

Feature Launch Date: 04/14/2026
 

FAQs

When will virtual values be used instead of OEM values?

Motive prioritizes direct Ford OEM readings whenever they are available and valid. Virtual Engine Hours are used only when Ford does not provide usable lifetime engine hours data. If OEM data becomes available again, it will replace virtual calculations going forward.

How are virtual engine hours calculated?

When OEM data is unavailable, Motive calculates Virtual Engine Hours by tracking and summing engine-on periods using Ford signals such as ignition or engine status. These calculations begin from a baseline value that can be configured by a fleet admin.

Can fleet admins correct or adjust these values?

Yes. Fleet admins can manually input an engine hours baseline with a timestamp at any time. This baseline acts as an offset, meaning future virtual calculations build on top of the most recent admin-provided value to stay aligned with actual readings.

How will virtual vs. direct values appear in the Fleet Dashboard?

In the vehicle profile within the Fleet Dashboard, Motive will display:

  • Direct OEM readings when available, clearly labeled.
  • Calculated (virtual) readings when OEM data is not available.

What happens if OEM APIs are delayed or temporarily unavailable?

Admin-provided offsets are used to minimize drift. When connectivity is restored, values remain as accurate and aligned with real-world readings as possible.

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