All Charged Up OverElectric Cars (NAPSA)—As more electric cars get set to hit the street, one American auto companyis in the forefront, working with partners to increase the usability of electric vehicles. What Communities Can Do Communities around the coun- try are preparing for the arrival of newelectric vehicles (EV). Some of the things they’re doing and methods involved include: * Utility rate structures that encourage “off-peak” or nighttime EV charging to minimize demand on the existing electric grid; Streamlined permitting and inspection process to support cus- tomer and commercial EV infrastructure installation; Integrated advisory committees that include participation from electric utilities, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, municipalities, EV customers and neigh- borhoodcoalitions; Urban planning approach to optimize public and commercial EV chargelocations. All this can help ensure that these vehicles are a viable solution for American drivers. WhatUtilities Can Do Fortunately, this country’s electric grid has plenty of capacity to support electric transportation. It helpsif utilities offer incentives so EV customers are encouraged to charge their cars when the most capacity is available. Electric cars are coming, experts advise, and many communities are working on ways to make driving them easier and less expensive for their citizens. The Powerof Choice Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s aggressive strat- egy to save energy and protect the planet. This includes launching five electrified vehicles: the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van; the Focus Electric; the C-MAX Hybrid; a second next-generation lithiumion battery hybrid; and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This wide range of electrified vehicles means the company can meet a variety of consumer driving needs while its cutting-edge technology helps ensure that drivers don’t have to sacrifice performance for efficiency. Learn More For more information, you can visit www.ford.com/green/ technology/.
