Ford, California power company join to develop plug-in hybrids

DETROIT (AP) Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison are teaming up in an effort to speed up delivery of mass produced hybrid vehicles to the marketplace.

The utility, which serves 13 (m) million people in eleven counties outside Los Angeles, will get a Ford plug-in hybrid vehicle by the end of this year and as many as 20 by some time in 2009. The utility will test the cars' durability, range and impact on the power grid.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally and other company executives plan to be in California today to make the announcement.

Plug-in hybrids generally have batteries that power an electric motor, with an internal combustion engine for use when the batteries run low. The batteries can be recharged by plugging them into a standard wall outlet.

Southern California Edison will help Ford by placing the cars with consumers and collecting data.

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