Ford to receive $10M federal grant for plug-in hybrid development
10/06/2008, 5:21 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Ford Motor Company is set to receive a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Energy to be spent on plug-in hybrid research and development. The government is funding half of Ford’s three-year plug-in development and demonstration program that currently has 20 plug-in hybrid vehicles on test.
According to the automaker, the three-year program is designed to demonstrate plug-in hybrids to consumers, as well as serve as a developmental test-bed for the untested technology. Ford has been working on a fleet of plug-ins with Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute, Johnson Controls-Saft and Michigan’s DTE Energy.
Ford is currently using the Edge and Escape SUVs as test-beds for plug-in hybrids. More details of the government’s grant are expected to be released tomorrow when an official announcement is made.
10/06, 5:35 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Our government should be reviewing who would be the better candidates for said grant versus simply handing it over to Ford, or one of the Big 2.5, to determine whether we are simply throwing our money away. We would be better off giving it to an upstart without all the overhead. I am seriously wondering whether Ford will be around in the near future.
10/06, 6:57 PM
posted by:
tzu13
…Why exactly did it go to Ford over everyone else? I mean, GM already has the Volt practically set (I hope), and like LLLL#3 said, what about an upstart like Tesla or someone else who has a fresh view on the biz?
10/06, 7:12 PM
posted by:
rds130
I agree with the poster above (Lariat Luxury…).
10/06, 7:15 PM
posted by:
rds130
actually, I agree with both of the above posters. lol
10/06, 7:57 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
First problem, get that damn Gillette grill off all your cars unless you make it more like it is on the 2010 Taurus spy pic. That looks really professional.
10/06, 8:23 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Maybe their funding Ford over anybody else because… Ford asked for this specific grant, nobody else did.
Nobodies really got a “fresh view” on the business. At least, not in a more mainstream sense.
10/06, 9:08 PM
posted by:
zeeck
So Ford gets extra money to develop the plug in, but other people that already have it didn’t get any help,
why?
The U.S. govt is overstepping their boundaries, what happened to competition?
if Ford fails, let them!
10/06, 9:20 PM
posted by:
TOZO
$10 Million ain’t much for this company. Screw AIG, etc. Fork it over to Ford!
10/07, 12:28 AM
posted by:
bigp
ok they will lead in a few years
10/07, 1:49 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
“Research and Develop” does not equal “Sell”. Leave that to Toyota and GM, who’ll have plugin hybrids within the next three years.
10/07, 11:14 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
tzu13- at least it wasn’t a $700 billion blank check to “fix” the auto business. Say, how’s everyone’s stocks this morning?
10/07, 11:52 AM
posted by:
elviososa
Ford should roll out the full electric car ASAP, and where is my European Ka and Fiesta?
10/07, 8:25 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Why should GM get help when they had the future of the US auto industry in its hands with the EV-1? They decided to build Hummers instead, bad management.