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July 9, 2007 8:09 AM PDT

Ford, electric utility to promote plug-in hybrids

Posted by Candace Lombardi

Ford Motor plans to announce a test program for hybrid plug-in vehicles on Monday.

The automaker is partnering with electric utility company Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally is expected to make the announcement with Edison CEO John Bryson at Edison's headquarters in Rosemead, Calif., at 2:30 p.m.

Ford would not provide further details on the program prior to the press conference, though some reports indicate that it will be a small pilot program of about 20 plug-in hybrid vehicles.

SCE on average provides electricity to 13 million people covering about 11 counties in southwest California. About 17 percent of the power it provides is made from alternative or renewable-energy sources, according to SCE.

This will not be the first time an automaker has partnered with an electric utility on a pilot program for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

In April, DaimlerChrysler, the New York Power Authority, the Electric Power Research Institute, The New York Times Co. and ConEdison, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, announced a partnership to test a Dodge Sprinter plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for transporting newspapers. The medium-duty truck is housed at the media company's printing plant in College Point, Queens.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 5 comments (Page 1 of 1)
rolling blackouts
by wylbur July 9, 2007 9:34 AM PDT
Wow, a utility that threatens its customers with rolling blackouts now wants them to plug in their cars too. What a huge dichotomy: On the one hand conservation programs and rolling blackouts to reduce the load, on the other a plan to encourage people to add a major load to the system. That is just plain perplexing and contradictory.
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Silly test - all PR
by theBike45 July 9, 2007 11:26 AM PDT
If Ford actually was silly enough to spend money "testing" the plug-in hybrid concept, they would do it in Detroit using their own workers. This media outlet extravaganza to launch a study which has virtually no logic behind its existence is, I suppose, the best that the loonies at Ford could come up with to counter the actualy plug-in production program at GM with their VOLT, due out (for certain) in late '09). At least 7 cities and towns have bought aftermarket plug-ins to "test." Never has a more obvious technology required so much in the way of "testing." What exactly do these fools think they're going to learn that they don't already know? You drive the car home into your garage or carport and you plug it in. Other than that, its just another automobile. I notice that Ford didn't seem to require any "testing" before they launched their own hybrid model. Perhaps someone should tell Ford that finding a practical battery is the hard part when it comes to building a plug-in. Anybody can build the car.
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another stalling tatic, we already charge laptops, cell ph, etcones
by yacahuma July 9, 2007 8:02 PM PDT
Ford engineer.Listen . Electric car = electric engine + batteries. We already charge laptops and cellphone and toys,and ... T "Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented (fordthe first crude electric carriage." web source More than a 100 years of electric car history. There is nothing more to test. Next time I insult someone I will call it a ford engineer.
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