Ford, Microsoft align to recharge cars

[boomerbust]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) on Wednesday announced an online application designed to help owners of Ford plug-in electric vehicles manage home electricity use while the vehicles recharge.

Microsoft Hohm will be offered to Ford car owners for free, the two companies said at the New York International Auto Show. Ford will introduce five electric vehicles by 2013, starting with a Transit Connect Electric later this year.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said the goal is "to make the electric vehicle viable, charging affordable and interaction with the utility grid smarter."

The application will help vehicle and home owners decide when to power up electric vehicle batteries, in the hope that consumers will draw power from the grid at night, when energy use and costs are low, said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, speaking from a video hookup to reporters in New York.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN3121111820100331?rpc=77

[SocialistLez]

1. Did I miss something?

A few weeks ago I went to the Ford site and didn't see anything on electric cars when it comes to future cars.

I would LOVE to see Ford come out with a plug-in hybrid but I haven't heard anything about it.

[boomerbust]

3. 5 different

Electric vehicles by 2013.

[SocialistLez]

6. Interesting

Thanks for replying. :)

I hope my car makes it that long....

[d_r]

9. not a plug-in but

http://www.thefordstory.com/green/ford-focus-electric-coming-soon/

[Ian David]

2. I bet most people will charge during the day, if they can, off their company's electricity. n/t

[boomerbust]

5. I was thinking the same

[seabeckind]

4. Soon, heard all over america...

Is that thing done booting yet? I gotta go to work.

Or you walk into the garage expecting to see a charged up car, ready to go, and instead see a blue screen and find it never started.

And I need a software system to tell me to plug the f'er in at nite? Maybe Balmer ought to look at ways to really improve stuff rather than trying to figure out how to make a buck on bullsh!t.

So how about these people quit f'ing around and give me an AFFORDABLE alternative to the ICE? Now! Not in 3 years.

I don't need a dam GPS to go 10 miles -- I got a map in my phone book.

Sorry about the rant...these people REALLY piss me off.

[Wildewolfe]

7. naw that wasn't the point

The point of the software is you plug your car in when you get home...

The software then lets your cars batteries draw juice in the middle of the night during off peak use when it's theoretically cheaper to do so. Don't know about you but I pay for KWHs used I don't think there is any measurement of onpeak or offpeak, but I bet there is a difference to the utility company.

Yes folks are still going to recharge days at the office. Average commute one way is right at the plug in range last time I looked and then they are going to plug in again at home at night.

There actually is value to the national powergrid in this if not to the individual consumer. Having said that...not 100% sure how I feel about microsoft doing it heh.

[seabeckind]

11. I understood the point

Using the Leaf as an example, it charges in 4 to 8 hours at 230v. Regular household current will take twice that, ie, 8-16 hours. I don't know about you but for me that's overnight.

Now if the thing would charge in 3 hours, how about they just shove a delay button on it, like my dishwasher? I don't need an elegant solution -- just a solution. And I sure don't need something that will make Balmer more money.

Secondly, the average commute is probably around 20 miles and the Leaf is supposed to have a range of 100 miles. That is well beyond what I need and I wouldn't waste time looking for a charging station to save a few bucks on my electric bill.

Now, if somebody will give me THAT for around $15k and in my lifetime, we're in business.

Oh, and lest we forget, it's a freaking BATTERY! How about they don't wire the frigging thing under 100 pounds of steel? Lord, my Dewalt drill came with 2 batteries.

Seems like our industry today thinks more about how to make a captive audience than solving problems.

[47of74]

8. I think I will wait for the Mac or Linux versions to come out

[ixion]

10. *shivers*

Scary combo, that. I would be nervous about driving a car that was in any way 'powered' by Micro$uck.

[jdadd]

12. You need software to do this?

For the last ten years, I've controlled my 120 gal water heater, to only heat during off peak hours, with nothing more than a simple timer.

:wtf: