Ford finds partners to prepare Oregon, Seattle for electric vehicles

In an effort to help prepare the city of Portland and the Pacific Northwest for upcoming electric vehicles (EVs), Ford Motor Company and Portland General Electric (PGE) will work collaboratively to ensure that the area's electrical grid can support battery-powered vehicles and will focus on informing consumers about the benefits of going electric. Ford and PGE will work together to convince local and state governments to develop an EV incentive program and hope to promote legislation and regulations that will encourage people to adopt EVs.

PGE recently unveiled the nation's first quick-charge station at its World Trade Center headquarters in Portland, OR. The quick-charge stations add to a network of more than 20 charging stations in PGE's operating area. Ford will introduce its first battery-powered vehicle, an electrified version of the Transit Connect, later this year, followed by the Focus EV in 2011. Follow the jump for more regarding the recent paring of Ford and PGE.

In related news, Ford has partnered with the city of Seattle to prepare that area for its EVs as well. The terms of the agreement between Ford and Seattle are nearly identical to the deal struck up with PGE. Mike Tinskey, Ford's manager of vehicle electrification and infrastructure, spoke of the importance of partnering with Seattle, stating:

Ford has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011. There is an incredible excitement for electric vehicles in Seattle. To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles in Seattle and across the country, it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and demand on the grid are ready.

With the addition of Portland and Seattle, Ford, like Nissan, is focusing a significant amount of effort into developing the EV infrastructure on our nation's western coast. Now it's time to expand the scope of those projects and reach out to areas in the Midwest.

[Source: Ford]

PRESS RELEASE

FORD AND PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC TEAM UP TO PREPARE OREGON FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

* Ford and PGE will work together to share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand for electric vehicles, as well as partner on consumer education outreach around electric vehicles.
* The partnership between Ford and PGE also includes working with state and local governments to support charging station permitting, electric vehicle tax credits and future legislation or regulations.
* Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two next generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).
* Ford and PGE will work with universities such as Portland State to further study urban mobility and the integration of energy and sustainable design.

PORTLAND: August 24, 2010 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) today announced a collaboration to help prepare the city of Portland and the Pacific Northwest for the operation of electric vehicles. Ford and PGE will work together to share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand for electric vehicles, as well as partner on consumer education outreach around electric vehicles.

"Ford has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011," said Mike Tinskey, Manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure, Ford Motor Company. "To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and grid capability are ready."

Ford and PGE have also agreed to work together with state and local governments to support charging station permitting, electric vehicle incentives and future legislation or regulations. Vehicle incentives and an easy charging station permitting process are considered to be two key to elements to electric vehicle acceptance in Portland and across the country.

"The idea of widespread use of electric vehicles in an urban setting is becoming a reality and we want Oregon to be well-positioned to take advantage of this new technology and the environmental benefits these automobiles will bring," said Jim Piro, president and CEO, PGE. "By working with Ford, PGE can better understand how these vehicles will interact with our electrical system and how we can best support our customers with the charging service they need to keep their electric cars rolling."

PGE is partnering with state and local government, higher education, the automobile industry, and businesses to expand the electric vehicle infrastructure in Oregon. In early August, PGE opened the nation's first quick-charge station at its World Trade Center headquarters, which complements the network of more-than 20 charging stations now up and running across PGE's operating areas. Ford will draw upon PGE's partnership with Portland State University to further study urban mobility and the integration of energy and sustainable design.

The partnership with PGE was the first one announced during Ford's "Charging Into the Future Tour." The 14-city tour, which kicked off at Portland State University in Oregon, promotes Ford's electric vehicle strategy and educates consumers about what to expect from electrified automobiles and what is needed from the public and private sectors to support this new technology.

Ford will introduce its first pure battery electric vehicle, the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, this year. In 2011, Ford will deliver the Focus Electric passenger car to market, and in 2012, will introduce new next generation lithium ion battery powered hybrids and a plug-in hybrid in North America.

These vehicles will achieve breakthrough efficiency; some, like the pure battery electric vehicles Ford Transit Connect Electric and Ford Focus Electric, will use no gasoline at all.

Electrification is an important piece of Ford's overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, power assisted steering, aerodynamic improvements, light weighting materials and the use of more sustainable and recycled materials. Ford's electrification strategy also leverages the most fuel-efficient powertrains, the most technically competent hybrids and its global vehicle platforms to develop affordable choices for consumers.

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About Ford Motor Company: Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About Portland General Electric: PGE, headquartered in Portland, Ore, is a fully integrated electric utility that serves more than 822,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. PGE is partnering with state and local government, higher education, the automobile industry, and businesses to expand the electric vehicle infrastructure in Oregon. For more information, visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/plugin.

About Portland State University: Portland State University (PSU) serves as a center of opportunity for over 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in Portland, Oregon, one of the nation's most livable cities, the University's innovative approach to education combines academic rigor in the classroom with field-based experiences through internships and classroom projects with community partners. The University's 49-acre downtown campus exhibits Portland State's commitment to sustainability with green buildings, while many of the 125 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees incorporate sustainability into the curriculum.

PRESS RELEASE

Ford and City of Seattle Team Up to Prepare City for Electric Vehicles

SEATTLE, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

* Ford and the City of Seattle will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand.

* The partnership between Ford and the City of Seattle also includes working with state and local governments around permitting, support for electric vehicle tax incentives and future legislations or regulations.

* Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two third generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).

* Earlier this week, Ford and Portland General Electric announced a similar relationship to help the city of Portland, Ore. get ready for electric vehicles.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and the City of Seattle today announced a partnership to help prepare the city for the operation of electric vehicles. Ford and the City of Seattle will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand.

"Ford has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011," said Mike Tinskey, Manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure, Ford Motor Company. "There is an incredible excitement for electric vehicles in Seattle. To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles in Seattle and across the country, it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and demand on the grid are ready."

The partnership between Ford and the City of Seattle, including municipally owned Seattle City Light, also involves working with the state and local governments around permitting, electric vehicle tax incentives and future legislations or regulations. Continued tax incentives as well as an easy charging station permitting process are both considered keys to electric vehicle acceptance in Seattle and across the country.

"I am pleased Seattle is working to support the environmental benefits of electric vehicles," Mayor Mike McGinn said. "We are working with Ford to better understand the needs these vehicles will have so we can provide local owners with excellent service to support electric cars."

Seattle and Seattle City Light have been national leaders in promoting the use of electricity for personal transportation. Their efforts include:

* Participation in one of the country's largest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle demonstration projects.
* A commitment to respond to home charging station permit applications within three business days. Winning $500,000 in ARRA funding through a Clean Cities Coalition grant, which will enable the City to install at least 50 charging stations on public property.
* Seattle City Light's fully offsetting its carbon emissions since 2005, the only large utility in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, which means electric cars charged in City Light's service territory run totally clean.

The collaboration between Ford and the City of Seattle was announced during Ford's "Charging Into the Future Tour." The 14-city tour, which kicked off in Portland, Ore. earlier this week, promotes Ford's electric vehicle strategy and educates consumers about what to expect from electrified automobiles and what is needed from the public and private sector to support this new technology.

Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two third generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).

These vehicles will achieve breakthrough efficiency; some, like the pure battery electric vehicles Ford Transit Connect Electric and Ford Focus Electric, will use no gasoline at all.

Electrification is an important piece of Ford's overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, power assisted steering, aerodynamic improvements and light weighting materials. Ford's electrification strategy also leverages the most fuel-efficient powertrains, the most technically competent hybrids and our global vehicle platforms in order to develop affordable choices for consumers.

About Ford Motor Company: Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About Seattle City Light: Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents.