REFILE-UPDATE 3-Ford sees plug-in hybrids in 5-10 yrs
(Refiles to make UPDATE number conform between slug and headline) (Recasts to show Ford plug-in hybrids in 5-10 years)
ROSEMEAD, Calif., July 9 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. (F.N) Chief Executive Alan Mulally said on Monday he expects the company to sell plug-in hybrids in five to 10 years.
"Within five to 10 years we will start to see this technology in our hands," Mulally on the sidelines of a press event to announce an alliance between Ford and utility Southern California Edison to test 20 rechargeable electric vehicles.
When asked if that meant plug-in hybrids would be available on showroom floors, Mulally said, "Yes. Sure."
Mulally said the rollout of Ford plug-in hybrids is dependent on advancements to lithium ion batteries that will be charged by the car's owners using regular household electrical outlets.
He declined to give a more precise production target, saying: "I can't go further than that. We will know a lot more in the next few years."
The comments were the first time Ford has offered a timeline for producing plug-in hybrids.
The alliance between the No. 2 U.S. automaker and the second-biggest U.S. electric utility is a first of its kind.
Many environmental advocates see plug-in hybrid vehicles as the best available technology to reduce gasoline consumption and global-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ford CEO and John Bryson, chief executive of Southern California Edison parent Edison International (EIX.N), unveiled plans for the first-of-its-kind alliance at Edison International's headquarters in suburban Los Angeles.
Under the partnership, researchers from Southern California Edison and Ford will work together in "real world" testing of up to 20 plug-in hybrid vehicles, Bryson said.
Environmental advocates, who have targeted Ford in the past, welcomed the tie-up and said it showed the automaker was back in the race for electric car technology with Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T) and General Motors Corp. GM.N
Mulally said it would provide So Cal Ed with 20 model year 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicles reconfigured to work as plug-ins by 2009. The first will be delivered by the end of this year.
Ford will work with an as-yet unnamed battery company to make the plug-ins for the joint-company tests.
Bryson said So Cal Ed will make it a "real world" test by giving the Escapes to 20 consumers who have electric "smart meters" to monitor power used to charge the SUVs. Continued...
