Ford Taps Utility to Test Plug-In Hybrids

GM may have the flashy Chevy Volt concept, but it seems Ford has taken the first step to test plug-in hybrids in the wild. Ford has teamed with electric utility California Edison to test its new plug-in hybrid technology starting this year, with as many as 20 vehicles on the roads by 2009. The company not only wants to test the cars themselves, but also the impact they have on the power grid.

A plug-in hybrid uses an electric motor to power the car with batteries that can be recharged by plugging in to an electrical outlet. A gasoline generator or small engine is used to charge the batteries when they run out of energy and the driver can’t stop to recharge.

Ford debuted a plug-in hydrogen hybrid earlier this year in an Edge SUV, but the company has been quiet about a gasoline version. Supposedly, the test vehicles will be Ford Escapes. We’re glad to see this real-world test run taking shape and will follow it closely.

Ford, California Utility to Test Plug-in Hybrids (The Detroit News)

Comments

This is nothing more than a stupid PR ploy.
Ford needs to stop fidling and start designing a plug-in for sale. Everyone and his brother knows how a plug-in works, so what's the point of "testing" one? There are hundreds of them out there via the aftermarket - just contact those ownders and ask them if you are so dumb you don't understand the plug-in concept.

Kent,
If it were so simply, don't you think one of the "mighty" imports would already have it out on the streets. You know, since judging by most of the comments(not yours) on this site toyota/honda= good, and anything domestic is evil. Just a thought.

Kent,
I'd actually argue against your statement because if everyone all of a sudden started plugging cars into the grid electric usage would shoot up. Most electricity is still generated by burning coal, at least in this country. So testing the impact on the grid, which is what Ford is doing, is important.
Plus the plugins that exist now aren't mainstream vehicles. They're small with little range and have not sold in large number because of those attributes.

Dave T.-
I know you've reported on this before, but I must have missed a detail. With the plug-in hybrids, do they power the drive wheels like most existing hybrids? (I.E. sometimes just the electric motor, sometimes both) Or do they just power the wheels with the electric motor, and the gasoline/diesel/hydrogen engine just charges the batteries?

Dan,
Yeah it is confusing sometimes:
The gasoline "engine" is just a generator that will charge the batteries when they run out of their charge from being plugged in. The total operation of the car (meaning power to the wheels, electric systems, a/c) will all be from the electric motor.

Thanks Dave!

Ford whant to see about the power grid it going to be very little most of the time is in off peak times. also a slow charge is better then fast. you can take long time and save.

If ford and gm do not take a lead in the race it will be by by for the two of them

"A plug-in hybrid uses an electric motor to power the car with batteries that can be recharged by plugging in to an electrical outlet." Dave, apparently you don't know the difference between a series hybrid, like the Chevrolet Volt, which uses an electric motor to move the car at all times, and a parallel hybrid like the Toyota Prius, which can use either the electric motor or the gasoline engine or both to move the car. Either system can utilize a plug-in battery pack. It is not limited to the series hybrid, as you suggest.