The future of plug-in electric cars boils down to their adoption by drivers. As we have reported, car buyers are leery about EVs and concerned about charging their vehicles in public areas. A public charging infrastructure is virtually non-existent in the U.S. at this point.
Automakers are working with utility companies, local governments, and municipalities to develop such an infrastructure in a timely manner.
Lack of infrastructure has not dissuaded automakers from developing EVs and shifting future production to EV models. After all, everyone has an outlet at home.
Ford is beginning to sway towards an electric car future, not in small part due to the push of the Obama administration or the fact that the company recently got $5 billion in advanced technology loans.
Ford's director of hybrid vehicles Nancy Giola said, "for now the goal is simply to convince motorists to plug in... from 10 to 25 percent of Ford's production by 2020 will be some type of electrified vehicle." A bold statement for sure, but it goes to show that the major automaker has decided that EVs are here to stay.
Ford of course does not have the capability to electrify this country by itself. For that, they and other automakers like GM are turning to utility companies for support. Utility companies will install millions of smart meters in the coming years, along with the help of companies like Coulomb Technologies who are expected to install millions of chargers in public areas, and provide power to charge EVs throughout the country. This is a group effort and the cooperation of all involved parties is essential to the success of EVs.
As Ford's CEO Alan Mulally said, "we cannot do it alone."
Source: Reuters
