Ford launches new car recharge application with Microsoft

US based Ford Motor Co and Microsoft Corp launched an online car recharge application,  on Wednesday, to help owners of Ford plug-in electric vehicles which manages home electricity use while the car recharge. The Ford car owners will be offered Microsoft Hohm  for free, both of the company said in a joint statement, at the New York International Auto Show. Ford is going to introduce five electric vehicles by year 2013, initiating with launch of a Transit Connect Electric later this year.

The goal is to make the electric vehicle viable, charging affordable and interaction with the utility grid smarter, said Mr Alan Mulally, Ford Chief Executive. On the other hand Mr Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said that, the application will help vehicle and home owners to decide upon when to power up electric vehicle batteries, in the hope that consumers will draw power from the grid at night, when energy use and costs are low. The launch of this new application is a significant step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles successful.

Ford is also using Microsoft's technology in its Sync voice-controlled communications and entertainment system. The company has installed its Sync voice-controlled systems in more than 2 million vehicles since it began offering the feature about three years back. Sync, is standard or optional on most US Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models and offers voice command features and hands-free calling.