Ford to Roll Out Grid-Connected EVs

Sure, General Motors is grabbing headlines with its much-hyped (and recently criticized) Chevrolet Volt. But long-time rival Ford has its own electric vehicle strategy, the details of which were recently unveiled. A press release published earlier this week talks up Ford's entry into the plug-in hybrid market with a so-called "intelligent" system that allows cars to communicate with the grid.

It's still in the beginning stages, at least in terms of having products in showrooms, but Ford's upcoming line of plug-in hybrids will purportedly "talk" to the grid using "smart grid" technology, thereby making sure parked cars get recharged without spiking demand. Sure, it's a bunch of lingo now, but serious efforts are underway to "educate" our presently dumb electricity grids.

According to the press release, Ford is currently testing its vehicle-to-electric grid communications and control systems, which "allows the vehicle operator to program when to recharge the vehicle, for how long and at what utility rate. For example, an operator could choose to charge only during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper, or when the grid is using renewable energy."

A rather simplistic (but still mildly helpful) diagram (PDF) shows how Ford's technology works. It all sounds like a step in the right direction, but why did they wait so long? And no matter what they come up with, who but just a handful of consumers can afford to pay $40,000 (the estimated price of the Volt) for a sedan?

Image courtesy of Ford Motor Company