Washington, D.C. - Ford Motor Company has been awarded a US$10 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for research, development and demonstration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

Ford received the grant for the continued development of a demonstration fleet of 20 PHEVs. The grant funds 50 per cent of the US$20 million project. Ford delivered the first flexible-fuel-capable PHEV electric SUV to the DOE in June; the Escape Plug-In Hybrid is part of a demonstration fleet Ford is developing in partnership with Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute, DTE and Johnson Controls/Saft. Advanced vehicle testing is under way on vehicles in California, Michigan and Washington, D.C.

“As a leader in both hybrid and flexible fuel technology, Ford is well positioned to bring the two together in a plug-in vehicle,” said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford’s Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “With plug-in hybrids, we have the potential to significantly change our transportationand energy future. Our ultimate goal is to create plug-in vehicles that can be mass-produced and meaningfully contribute to our nation’s energy security.”