Katie Fehrenbacher, Josie Garthwaite

Why Microsoft’s Electric Vehicle Deal With Ford Matters

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. Microsoft’s Angle
  3. Ford’s Focus
  4. Impact on the Energy Management Ecosystem

1. Summary

Two of the biggest players in both the  computing and automotive industries have teamed up to tackle smart charging for electric vehicles. On Wed., March 31, 2010, Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced at the New York International Auto Show that they will work to together to use Microsoft’s home energy management tool Hohm to manage battery charging in Ford’s upcoming electric vehicles. Starting with the Ford Focus next year, drivers will be able to use Hohm to schedule and control the car’s battery charge based on factors like fluctuating energy pricing and a consumer’s convenience.