Ford

Ford and the EV-Backed, Solar-Powered, Cloud-Controlled Home

By Greentech Media


What’s the value of a home that can fine-tune EV charging in the garage, solar panels on the roof, appliances in the kitchen and thermostats on the wall to maximize its energy profile?

Ford Motor Co., SunPower and Whirlpool say it’s significant, at least according to a new computer model they’ve developed with the Georgia Institute of Technology. And while they haven’t launched any commercial offerings on this front yet, Ford has already developed a database of EV charging rates from utilities across the country to give each home system some grid-pertinent data to make decisions with — and a cloud-based management platform to control it all. Keep reading →

 /  Published January 9, 2013 at 8:50 AM

The Electric Race from Extraordinary to Ordinary

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How a quest for a ten-fold improvement in batteries promises to make electric vehicles deliver on their remarkable potential.

The din that accompanied the birth of modern electric vehicles has quieted, despite a steady parade of new models and the ascent of gas prices to worrisome highs. The relative quiet is good news though, a sign that electric vehicles (EVs) are entering a critical period when the technology must evolve from exotic to everyday. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 4, 2012 at 11:50 AM

World’s First Military Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet Unveiled

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Much like microwaves and satellites, the US military could serve as an incubator for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology, helping it advance to a point where it can stand on its own in the global marketplace. In one of the latest examples of the private sector collaborating with the military on new technologies, General Motors and the U.S. Army, Pacific recently launched a 16 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet in Hawaii.

The US Army views this as a worthwhile investment because its desire to reduce fossil fuel reliance, which can be a security concern. The contract is for a fleet of administrative vehicles that will be driven on base and around Oahu. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 8, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Car Companies Pressed for Natural Gas Vehicle Boost

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With decade-low natural gas prices threatening to dampen America’s shale-gas boom, gas-producing states are looking for ways to stimulate demand from cars and light trucks.

Ten states have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to persuade automakers in the US to mass-produce competitively priced cars that will run on natural gas, providing a new outlet for abundant domestic supplies of the cleaner-burning fuel. The signatories are seeking more support. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 8, 2012 at 9:00 AM
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