Ford Motor Co. (F) is partnering with Coulomb Technologies to provide
about 5,000 free in-home charging stations for the auto giant's first
electric-vehicle buyers.
Under the program, residents in nine major markets could receive a free
ChargePoint charging station with the purchase of a Ford Transit Connect
electric vehicle. Ford announced last year that the Transit Connect, a van,
would be the first of its vehicles to have an all-electric version. It will
debut later this year.
The program is part of a $37 million infrastructure project for Coulomb, a
California-based vehicle-charging infrastructure company. Part of the project
was funded by $15 million of stimulus money from the
U.S.
government.
The offerings "help build the necessary infrastructure to make the
electric vehicle a more viable option for American consumers," said Sue
Cischke, Ford's global vice president of sustainability, environment and safety
engineering.
Ford, which plans to have introduced five electric vehicles in
North
America
by 2012, has fared better than other
U.S.
auto
makers during the recession. The company in April said it posted a $2.1 billion
first-quarter profit and said it remained "cautiously optimistic about
positive signs emerging in the global economy."
Shares of Ford rose 1.3% to $11.56 in recent trading ahead of the industry
releasing May U.S. sales data. The stock has gained 16% so far this year.