Smart charging systems appear to be the order of the day among the leading car manufacturers with Ford the latest to develop an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The system will communicate directly with the electric grid and allows the vehicle operator to program when to recharge the vehicle, for how long and at what rate. This means that a vehicle owner could choose to accept a charge during off-peak hours when electricity rates are cheaper, or when the grid is only using renewable energy.
It is expected that all 21 of Ford’s plug-in hybrid Escapes will be equipped with the technology as the company takes steps to prepare for the commercialisation of electric vehicles.
The US vehicle manufacturer has had its sights set on plug-in vehicles for some time having logged more than 75,000 miles on its test fleet over the last two years. In 2007 it announced a partnership with Southern California Edison, an electric utility with the nation’s largest and most advanced electric vehicle fleet. The partnership was designed to make plug-in hybrid vehicles more accessible as well as reduce petrol related emissions and examine the issues relating to connectivity and the electric grid.
Its efforts were boosted after it was selected for two grants from the Department of Energy including one for $30million to fund its collaboration with utility partners and another of $62.7million for production of an electric-drive transaxle for both hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
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