At last week’s New York International Auto Show, Ford announced a
partnership with software giant Microsoft to outfit future electric
models with EV management systems. The Microsoft Hohm is energy
management software that is intended to adjust household electrical
consumption depending on time of day, average daily consumption and
other factors. This application is coupled with Microsoft’s Azure
cloud-computing system to allow the simple transfer of information
between homes and utility operators. Microsoft is going to work with
Ford to convert the Hohm system for use in the burgeoning field of
vehicle charging. Ford says that the adapted Microsoft Hohm system will
make its first appearance in the 2012 Focus Electric.
The
primary purpose of the Microsoft-Ford partnership is to reduce energy
costs for consumers who invest early in electrical vehicles. Ford plans
to release five hybrid and EV models in Europe and the United States by
2013. This vanguard of clean vehicles will include three plug-in
vehicles that could potentially increase the financial burden on early
adopters. The Hohm system was seen by Ford as an existing system that
could be reconfigured easily to achieve its goal of reduced fuel
consumption.
Microsoft has already partnered with four
municipal utilities in Washington, Minnesota and California to
accommodate data collection and transfers from standard users of Hohm.
Owners of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric living in these utilities will
be privy to usage data within their communities that can influence
charge times. The Microsoft Hohm system re-purposed for Ford vehicles
will still work outside of these companies by providing day-to-day
driving and charging tips based on user trends. The full potential of
this partnership between Microsoft Hohm and the Ford Focus Electric
will only be achieved with constant input of information from other
users.
In the Microsoft-Ford partnership, we see that a more
flexible and information-based infrastructure is needed to ensure
greener transportation. We cannot simply set electric vehicles from
Ford, Toyota and Honda on the road without charging stations and proper
data sharing. Microsoft stands to expand its reach even further as the
auto industry has greater demands for energy management systems for new
vehicles. From Microsoft down to manufacturers of home charging
stations, the introduction of hybrids and electrics will be as much of
a boon to the economy as the environment.
