EPRI Joins Ford-SCE Analysis of Plug-in Hybrids on Grid

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Ford Motor
Company today announced a three year agreement to develop and evaluate
technical approaches for integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
(PHEVs) into the nation's electric grid system, a key requirement to
facilitate widespread adoption of the vehicles.

EPRI will form a collaborative of utilities in the New York-New
Jersey area that will test Ford Escape PHEVs. Subsequent trials will
be conducted with customers of the participating utilities.

Ford, which is also working with Southern California Edison (SCE),
is the first automotive manufacturer to partner with the utility
industry to facilitate advancing PHEVs. The new EPRI-Ford program will
build on the ongoing Ford-SCE partnership and help determine regional
differences in how the operation of PHEVs will impact the electric
grid system.

"This partnership represents a concerted effort by the
transportation and electric sectors to work together in advancing PHEV
technology," said Mark Duvall, EPRI's program manager for Electric
Transportation. "This effort should accelerate the pace of PHEV
development while enabling the utility industry to prepare for the
introduction of these vehicles."

Ford has designed and is building 20 Escape PHEVs for testing in
the Los Angeles area under the Ford-SCE partnership. With this new
EPRI-Ford agreement, Ford is able to expand the evaluation and
demonstration program to include other utilities.

"EPRI brings our collaborative efforts related to the potential of
plug-in electric vehicle technology to a new level," said Nancy Gioia,
director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies at Ford. "PHEVs have
great promise, but still face significant obstacles to
commercialization, including battery costs and charging strategies.
Ultimately such vehicles must provide real value to consumers."

The evaluation and demonstration trials should provide solid
technical information on PHEVs that will enable the development of
common standards among utilities to accommodate the vehicles.
"Expanding on the work Ford and SCE are doing can help move the
automotive and utility industries closer in addressing the challenges
of our transportation future," said Ed Kjaer, director of Electric
Transportation at SCE.

PHEVs are part of a family of electric-drive technologies that
could play an important role in achieving national objectives of
energy security and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. They
could also lower fuel costs and lead to more cost-effective use of the
nation's electricity grid, particularly during off-peak hours.

EPRI, Ford and SCE's research and analysis on the Ford PHEVs will
include data from four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle
systems, customer usage, and grid infrastructure. The analysis will
also explore possible stationary and secondary usages for advanced
batteries.

The combined expertise of the partners in this project, Ford, EPRI
and SCE, is designed to advance a greater understanding of a vehicle,
home and grid energy system.

About EPRI:

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com)
conducts research and development on technology, operations and the
environment for the global electric power industry. As an independent,
non-profit organization, EPRI brings together its members, the
institute's scientists and engineers, along with experts from
academia, industry and other centers of research to meet challenges in
electricity generation, delivery and use, including health, safety and
the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the
electricity generated in the United States, and international
participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI has major offices and
laboratories in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.,
and Lenox, Mass.

About Ford:

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Michigan, United States, manufactures or distributes
automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 230,000
employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and
affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and
Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please
visit www.ford.com.

EPR
Clay Perry, 202-293-6184
clperry@epri.com
or
Ford Motor Company
Jennifer Moore, 313-248-2335
Jmoor186@ford.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008