DEARBORN, Mich � Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday its future electric cars will �talk� to power grids across the country, part of an effort to drive interest in alternative energy vehicles.

The nation�s second-largest automaker released details of a two-year collaboration with about a dozen utility companies as well as the Department of Energy on the design of a system that allows car owners to control when they charge vehicles and for how long.
Owners can choose to recharge at off-peak times when electricity is cheaper, or when wind, solar or renewable energy is driving the grid, said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford�s sustainable mobility technologies division. �What we�re doing is developing our capability.�
Ford and the utility companies are testing the system and have logged 75,000 miles on a test fleet. The goal is to have a network in place so drivers can recharge their cars at preset times at home, work or elsewhere.
The system aims to develop technical standards so that a car purchased and used in Michigan, can �talk� to an electric grid in New York if the driver moves or travels.
Ford�s first battery electric vehicle, the Transit Connect commercial van, will be available next year. A battery electric Ford Focus compact car will go on sale in 2011.
Mark Duvall, head of the Electric Power Research Institute, in Palo Alto, Calif., said that although the nation�s current electric grid could handle widespread adoption of electric cars, more things can be done to use energy more efficiently. For example, drivers could recharge a car at 3 a.m. so it doesn�t tax the grid and costs less.
Shares of Ford rose 27 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $7.64 in afternoon trading.