Ford to Debut in Focus EV Microsoft Charging-Efficiency Software for EV Owners
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010
By Danny King, Contributor
Ford Motor Co. is working with Microsoft Corp. on a system that will help owners of the automaker's electric vehicles more efficiently recharge their cars, and the companies announced today that the energy-management system will debut next year when it starts selling the Focus EV.
In addition to the zero-emissions Focus battery-electric vehicle, Ford will start selling its Transit Connect Electric small commercial van later this year as well as a plug-in hybrid for 2012.
Ford, which sells four Ford-and Mercury-branded hybrid-electric vehicles and will add the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid this fall, is looking to maximize demand for its electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids over the next couple years in an effort to boost its fleet's overall fuel efficiency.
The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker, whose Fusion Hybrid was named Motor Trend's North American Car of the Year at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, boosted unit sales of its hybrids last year by 72 percent to 33,500.
"For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said today.
By using Microsoft Hohm, Ford EV owners will be able to better gauge when best to recharge their vehicles while providing information to the utility companies about vehicle charging habits, the companies said.
Hohm, which Microsoft started work on last year, also provides suggestions on how customers can save on home heating, cooling and other utility-related expenses.
Ford, whose PHEV fleet testing has included 12 U.S. utility companies logging 160,000 miles on 21 Ford Escape PHEVs, confirmed today that it will start selling the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid this fall. The car, which the automaker says will get at least 41 miles per gallon, complements Ford's global electrification plan of five new electrified vehicles by 2013.
They include the Transit Connect Electric in late 2010, the Focus Electric in 2011, a next-generation hybrid electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012, followed by another next-generation hybrid EV in 2013.
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