Ford, Microsoft team up for electric car recharge

Global auto major Ford Motor Company and software giant Microsoft Corporation are joining hands to develop an energy management application for electric vehicles that will help owners to recharge their new-generation electric cars efficiently and affordably .

The new solution Microsoft Hohm announced by the companies at the 2010 New York auto show, is claimed to make electric vehicle ownership easier and cost-effective and also help utility companies handle effectively the added demand on the power-grid by all-electric  and hybrid vehicles.

Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally said, ''Ford and Microsoft both share a strong commitment to contributing to a better world. Today, we begin the next major step in our working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.''

''For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable,'' Mulally added.

Hohm is an internet-based service which will help customers to reduce the cost of recharge by providing details of their energy use patterns and recommending ways to improve it through smart recharging practices.

The application is currently available for free to all residential customers in the US. Ford is the first car manufacturer to introduce Hohm which will be available in its Focus Electric model next year.