A Ford truck, a trailer, and a lawn mower. That’s all California native Tom Moore needed to run the residential landscape operation that funded his college education.
Three decades later, another Ford truck marked a new beginning.
After graduating, Tom spent more than 30 years in a national landscaping business, but in 2001, he struck out on his own, founding BellaVista Landscape with his wife, Chris, and their two sons, Brian and Matt.
“It’s truly a from-the-ground-up journey,” said Matt Moore, who now runs the business with his brother. “In college, my dad relied on his Ford truck to service lawns, and when he started our business, it was, once again, with a single Ford truck.”
Fast-forward 23 years, and BellaVista has grown to a fleet of 73 Ford vehicles and 157 employees. Initially serving a small area in the South Bay of San Jose, California, their territory now spans the greater Bay Area and Sacramento.
“It’s truly a from-the- ground-up journey.”Matt Moore, SVP, Strategy & Development, BellaVista Landscape
Vehicles That Get the Job Done
BellaVista’s electrification journey started more than two years ago, when Moore connected with Mark Wexler, commercial sales and fleet director at The Ford Store Morgan Hill, to purchase an F-150® Lightning® truck.
“Mark really understood what we needed and got us set up in the Ford Pro system,” Moore said.
Since then, BellaVista has acquired 25 Ford hybrid and electric vehicles — including eight hybrid Maverick® trucks, four F-150 Lightning Pro trucks, and two F-150 Lightning Flash™ trucks.
“While the upfront investment has been substantial, that’s the nature of making big changes, and it’s been beneficial for us long term,” Moore said.
For BellaVista, the transition wasn’t just about challenging industry norms; it was also a practical business decision.
“In our line of work, vehicles age quickly, so as we decommissioned some of our older gas vehicles, we saw an opportunity to assess our team’s needs and explore how hybrid or electric vehicles could fit into our operations.”
According to Moore, gas-powered trucks like the F-250® are still better suited for some tasks, such as hauling heavy debris. However, he’s found that smaller, more fuel-efficient options like the hybrid Maverick are beneficial for certain jobs. For example, in San Francisco, there’s a lot of traffic and congestion, which makes it difficult to park bulky trucks.
“We’re adapting our footprint, equipment, and work style to better suit clients’ needs,” Moore said. He also discovered that his employees shared enthusiasm for the transition. “Electric equipment eliminates gas fumes and reduces noise pollution, creating a more pleasant working environment for everyone.”
Unlocking Insight with Ford Pro™ Telematics
Along with the vehicles, Wexler set BellaVista up with a Ford Pro Telematics1 subscription, which collects near-real-time data from a vehicle’s built-in modem or plug-in device. The Ford Pro Intelligence1 platform then pulls in the data, analyzes it, and presents the findings in an easy-to-read dashboard. Moore can access key fleet data on the dashboard, such as vehicles’ location, any maintenance notifications, and mileage.
According to Moore, drivers cover anywhere from 200 to 1,000 miles weekly. Prior to activating Ford Pro Telematics,1 BellaVista drivers would manually track their mileage by recording odometer readings on Monday mornings.
“The process of pulling that information from the Telematics dashboard is very simple,” Moore said.
Data from Telematics also allows him to compare fuel efficiency between gas and hybrid vehicles, revealing significant savings.
“One of our team members who we rolled into a Maverick hybrid was averaging about 15.2 miles per gallon in his F-150,” Moore said. “Now, he’s averaging 38.8 miles per gallon.”
This translates to substantial potential gains: Between January and April 2024, this employee drove 7,346 miles in his gas vehicle, but based on his improved fuel efficiency in the Maverick, he could have theoretically driven almost 18,000 miles on the same amount of fuel.
Fleet Efficiency: Unlocked
To maximize his electric vehicle’s range between charges, Moore also uses features like 1-Pedal Driving,2 which can help increase the level of regenerative braking. This system captures energy normally lost during braking and redirects it back to the battery, extending the vehicle’s range.
“Using regenerative braking, I can drive around town and recapture some of my energy,” Moore said.
This strategic use of features helps BellaVista optimizefleet efficiency — a philosophy that extends beyond driving habits to include charging and service practices.
Charging
BellaVista’s charging strategy is designed to provide employees with options.
“We installed charging units at our employees’ homes, as well as four Ford Pro Chargers at our offices,” Moore said. “Our superintendent commutes about an hour and a half every day, so he charges his vehicle overnight at home, then tops it off when he gets to the office.”
Those options, along with the BlueOval™ Charge Network, have allowed BellaVista employees to quickly find a place to charge almost anywhere. By enrolling in Public Charge Management and activating Connected Navigation,3 drivers can find nearby public chargers using the vehicle’s touchscreen, and billing for public charging of fleet vehicles can be consolidated into one monthly invoice. Or the FordPass® mobile app can be used to locate public chargers.
“Even team members with limited tech experience have found the mobile app easy to use,” Mooresaid. “They’ve caught onto it really well.”
Service
One of the most practical advantages of electric vehicles is the potential for reduced scheduled maintenance costs. While routine services like tire rotations, brake inspections, and cabin air filter replacements are still necessary, electric vehicles eliminate the need for frequent oil changes and other engine-related services.
Over the past year, BellaVista's four F-150 Lightning Pro trucks have accumulated 133,000 miles and undergone six routine maintenance visits. In accordance with BellaVista’s typical routine maintenance schedule, Moore estimates that this mileage would have likely resulted in approximately 13 oil changes and other routine services if those miles had been driven by gas-powered F-150 trucks.
Moore calculated that those 13 service events would have cost the company an estimated $4,550 to $8,450, which he based on BellaVista's typical maintenance costs of $350 to $650 per gas-powered truck. In contrast, the six maintenance visits for the F-150 Lightning trucks cost just $420 total ($70 per service), an 80% to 95% cost reduction.
To avoid taking vehicles out of service for a full day for off-site maintenance, BellaVista also started using Ford Mobile Service4 for its F-150 Lightning trucks, which Moore calls “extremely convenient.” Using the Telematics app, Moore can schedule time for a technician to come directly to his drivers, whether they’re at the office or on a job site.
“The Ford Store Morgan Hill has sent Ford Mobile Service vans to our yard location, which has been extremely convenient for our team,” Moore said. "The technicians arrive at a prearranged time to perform straightforward maintenance, allowing our team to continue working uninterrupted.”
“The Ford Store Morgan Hill has sent Ford Mobile Service vans to our yard location, which has been extremely convenient for our team.”Matt Moore, SVP, Strategy & Development, BellaVista Landscape
From Tom Moore’s humble beginnings to Brian and Matt’s current leadership roles, BellaVista Landscape embodies the spirit of hard work and innovation. The company’s embrace of hybrid and electric vehicles is the latest chapter in a story of continuous growth, and Ford Pro is happy to be part of that electrification journey.
“Everyone we’ve worked with at Ford, especially at The Ford Store Morgan Hill, has been a tremendous asset, which is why we remain loyal customers.”
Diane McGraw writes for the Ford Pro Communications team.
1Available on vehicles with embedded modem or equipped with approved plug-in device (PID). May require modem activation. Ford Pro™Telematics and Ford Data Services™require a purchased subscription. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features and access to vehicle data depend on subscription and compatible AT&T network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.
21-Pedal Drive is an extra driving aid. It does not replace the driver’s attention and judgment or the need to apply the brakes. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.
3Services require SYNC® 4 or newer, activation throughFordPass® app (subject toFordPassTerms), modem activation, and a Connected Navigation Service Plan. Equipped vehicles come with either a 90-day or up to 3-year Connected Navigation trial from new-vehicle warranty start date, after which purchase isrequired. Connected Services and features depend on compatible AT&T network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.
4Ford Mobile Service is offered by participating dealers and may be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer-specified criteria. Does not include parts or repair charges.
