Ford Working With Numerous Cities To Ensure Readiness For Electric Vehicles

Ford Working With Numerous Cities To Ensure Readiness For Electric Vehicles



While Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) is gearing up for the launch of its new Focus Electric car later this year and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid in 2012, the company is also working with cities and utility partners to identify key infrastructure building blocks that will enable metropolitan areas to be ready for electric vehicles.

Some of the cities Ford is already working with include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Boston.

Some of the key actions Ford has identified in working with cities include: utility rate structures that encourage nighttime (off-peak) charging, a streamlined permitting and inspection process to support infrastructure installation, integrated advisory committees representing a wide variety of groups, urban planning to optimize charge locations, and finally infrastructure incentives to offset a portion of customer costs.

Mike Tinskey, Ford's manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure said, "As more and more electric vehicles come to market, it's incredibly important that cities develop action plans including infrastructure development and permitting solutions to ensure these vehicles are a viable solution for citizens. Ford continues outreach with cities across the country to spread best practices and work with multiple partners including local utilities, auto manufacturers, technology companies and others to support a successful integration of electric vehicles."