Ford and Microsoft hope to drive home energy savings with electric car management software

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A recently released study from the University of Michigan indicates that consumers are increasingly interested in hybrid and electric vehicles. The survey found that 42 percent of Americans said they might buy a plug-in electric vehicle in the future.

As Americans take up green initiatives in their home lighting solutions and household appliances, why shouldn’t they take these green initiatives on the road with eco-friendly vehicles?

Well, there might be one good reason. According to a report from Microsoft, adding an electric automobile to a household makes it the single largest consumer of electricity in the home. Officials indicate that if members of a neighborhood were to come home at 6 p.m. and start charging their cars at the same time, "it would be like a traffic jam on our electric grid."

Clearly, there will need to be some technological innovations that can make electric cars the energy-saving tools they are designed to be. Microsoft and Ford are already working on it.

The two companies are teaming up to use Microsoft Hohm as a way for future owners of Ford’s electric vehicles to optimize their home energy use when recharging their cars. They also plan to work with utility centers to help communities develop energy ecosystems that manage energy use as the demand for electric cars grows.

"With Microsoft Hohm, Ford and Microsoft will deliver a solution that will make it easier for car owners to make smart decisions about the most affordable and efficient ways to recharge electric vehicles, while giving utilities better tools for managing the expected changes in energy demand," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO.

Once this technology takes effect, electric cars might translate into even better eco-savings – for the planet and consumers. "Plug it in, plug it in" – not just for Glade’s scented air fresheners anymore, homeowners.

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