While Ford is gearing up to launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid in 2012, cities around the country also are preparing for the arrival of new electric vehicles.
Ford this week named 25 U.S. cities that are paving the way for an influx of electric cars.
Ford is working with a growing list of metropolitan areas that are stepping up their EV preparations and infrastructure, including: Atlanta, Hartford, Conn., Raleigh, N.C., Austin, Texas, Honolulu, Richmond, Va., Baltimore, Houston, Sacramento, Calif., Boston, Indianapolis, San Diego, Charlotte, N.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Dallas, Orlando, Fla., Washington, D.C., Denver, Phoenix, Detroit and Portland, Ore.
Some of the key actions Ford has identified in working with cities and utility partners include:
• Utility rate structure that encourages “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 local coalitions
• Urban planning approach to optimize public/commercial EV charge locations
• Infrastructure incentives to offset a portion of customer costs for hardware/installation
