DOE to help Ford accelerate PHEVs

$10 million for 20 PHEVs

The DOE has provided Ford with a $10 million grant to continue its test program of 20 plug-in Ford Escape hybrids. According to GCC, the Escape hybrids will be "equipped with a 10 kWh advanced lithium ion battery pack supplied by Johnson Controls/Saft that stores enough electric energy to drive up to 30 miles at speeds of up to 40 mph. The battery works in tandem with a small four-cylinder engine."

It's hard for me to get too excited when there are numerous third party companies doing exactly the same without any money from the government. Obviously, they aren't as involved in the grid work that is being executed in this program, but still.

Perhaps, if Ford could double the production of the conventional Escape hybrid just once this decade I could get a little excited.