Ford’s first electric vehicle won’t hit the roads until sometime next year, but the Michigan automaker announced this week that it has developed a system for its electric vehicles to communicate with next-generation ‘smart’ power grids.
Acting as a sort of middle man between the plug-in vehicle and the electric grid, Ford’s system can communicate with the grid and determine the best time to recharge a vehicle’s battery. Plug-in owners will have several setting to choose from, including charging during the cheapest, off-peak hours. According to The Detroit News, the system can even be set to only use power from renewable energy sources, such as wind power.
Ford plans to initially test the new technology in 21 prototype plug-in hybrids, but the technology could become a standard feature on Ford’s forthcoming electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Ford worked with 10 utility companies and the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the technology.
Ford has yet to set a specific date for the technology’s public launch, but the automaker’s first EV – an electric version of the Transit – will hit the market in 2010. A electric version of the Ford Focus will launch in 2011 — followed by a plug-in hybrid in 2012 – so it remains possible the new technology could find its way into any of those vehicles.
08/19, 3:52 PM
posted by:
A4
So it will have an egg timer…?
08/19, 3:57 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Best time to charge a battery? Ahh when it’s low?
08/19, 4:00 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’ve been talking to crows on the power lines for years. I guess that makes me a visionary.
08/19, 4:04 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
hehe…that’s what i thought at first too, denver, but they mean the best time for the power grid, not for the car…
08/19, 4:05 PM
posted by:
Borat
We have a winner. You really need supercomputer aboard the car to figure out that least demand for electricity is in the wee hours of the morning. My hat is off to braniacs at Ford. Let see how it will look like and how much it will cost.
08/19, 4:16 PM
posted by:
eff1Fifty
if ur on a road trip, would u bring an extension cord with u?
08/19, 4:18 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
” Alex – I’ll take wind power charging for $2 “
08/19, 4:35 PM
posted by:
jrb000
This is great news… I like the fact that Ford is stepping up to the plate and running with it. They are working on leaving the other 2 in the dust!
08/19, 4:41 PM
posted by:
4thyrkindergarten
so the GPS will source out any downed power wires and reroute you over them “free of charge”?? BTW-How fast will an electric car go if its hit by lightning??
08/19, 4:49 PM
posted by:
worst 3
something all future plug in cars should have and probably will, i wonder if u can have it sell the power from the batteries during high demand if u know that u wont be going out during the day and then recharge when the price is lower.
08/19, 5:04 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
So it talks to the Power Grid I want a Vehicle that talks to me and only to me instead.
08/19, 5:06 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Ok and it talks to the Power Grid and Says Charge it please! lol
08/19, 5:11 PM
posted by:
CajuRican
@4thyrkindergarten
88 mph?
08/19, 5:20 PM
posted by:
Payton Byrd
Nobody here has any vision. When there are MILLIONS of EVs on the road the power grid is going to have to coordinate with the EVs themselves to determine amount of power needed for a charge that meets the normal driving pattern of the owner. I’d rather the personal usage data necessary to accomplish this be at Ford than some government agency.
08/19, 6:20 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
In a country with 250 million cars, a few million EVs won’t even make a dent. It will be many years before we see that many EVs on the road, too. However, as Payton said, I’m glad Ford is doing this, and not some agency (nor another foreign make).
08/19, 9:08 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
Borat you are full of crap. You are very negative on every article you comment on and never say anything good.
You all need to look past it. By talking to the grid and deciding the best time to recharge, it can help drivers keep everything in line and even help cut down on spending. Its a great idea. I’d rather i have a grid tell me the best time to recharge than me guessing. I wouldn’t wait untill it gets low though, as you may not be able to get to a recharge station and you want to conserve the power in the battery.
-iluvamcars
08/19, 10:08 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
i’m laughing over heRRe, good posts guys, hehe!
08/19, 10:17 PM
posted by:
Bosley
If they’re communicating with the grid, then who else are they communicating with?…….
08/20, 10:36 AM
posted by:
wakeNbake
but does it have a flux capacitor?
08/20, 12:50 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
“the system can even be set to only use power from renewable energy sources, such as wind power.” I call bullsh!t on this article. That’s impossible! You can’t judge where your electricity comes from, that’s like saying you don’t want water from plant A but Plant B at a flip of a switch.