Communities around the country are preparing for the arrival of new electric vehicles (EV). Some of the things they’re doing and methods involved include:
• Utility rate structures that encourage “off-peak” or nighttime EV charging to minimize demand on the existing electric grid;
• Streamlined permitting and inspection process to support customer and commercial EV infrastructure installation;
• Integrated advisory committees that include participation from electric utilities, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, municipalities, EV customers and neighborhood coalitions;
• Urban planning approach to optimize public and commercial EV charge locations.
All this can help ensure that these vehicles are a viable solution for American drivers.
What Utilities Can Do
Fortunately, this country’s electric grid has plenty of capacity to support electric transportation. It helps if utilities offer incentives so EV customers are encouraged to charge their cars when the most capacity is available.
The Power of Choice
Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s aggressive strategy to save energy and protect the planet. This includes launching five electrified vehicles: the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van; the Focus Electric; the C-MAX Hybrid; a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid; and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This wide range of electrified vehicles means the company can meet a variety of consumer driving needs while its cutting-edge technology helps ensure that drivers don’t have to sacrifice performance for efficiency.
Learn More
For more information, you can visit www.ford.com/green/technology/.
