The city of Portland in Oregon will soon reap the rewards of a new collaboration between one of its leading utilities and the Ford Motor Company.
The car manufacturer has teamed up with Portland General Electric to prepare the city for the operation of electric vehicles. The two companies will work together to share information on charge needs and requirements in an effort to ensure that the electrical grid can support the demand for electric vehicles.
In addition, the firms will work alongside state and local governments in an effort to support charging station permitting, electric vehicle incentives and future legislation or regulations.
Portland General Electric is already working with state and local government as well as higher education and businesses in the area to expand electric vehicle infrastructure. Earlier this month, it opened the nation’s first quick charge station at its World Trade Centre headquarters which complements the 20 charging stations up and running across its operating areas.
Now Ford will draw on its partnership with Portland State University to further its studies into urban mobility and sustainable design. The manufacturer plans to introduce the Transit Connect Electric later this year, followed by a Ford Focus Electric in 2011; and in 2012, a new generation of lithium-ion battery powered hybrids and a plug-in hybrid.
