Ford announced today that it has developed a working system that allows its plug-in electric vehicles to communicate directly with local power grids to help plan optimal charging times and conditions.
Already in use in several plug-in Escape test vehicles, the system is designed to give owners an idea how much charging is needed, where their vehicle can be charged and how much it will cost.
Ford also reiterated that it intends to build an all-electric version of its Transit Connect utility van next year, an electric Focus in 2011 and a next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012.
braco says:
09:37 AM, 08/19/09
Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are a great idea, but I don't think that our electric grid and infrastructure are ready for a large quantity of cars to be charged on it regularly. Here in California every summer there are threats of rolling blackouts because too many people turn on their AC units. Can you imagine what would happen if say 10% of states vehicles were electric and trying charge of the same electric grid we have now? Permanent blackout. If electric cars are the future than utilities need to start building more power plants and upgrading their grids.