Ford teams with SunPower to offer solar panel systems for electric car owners

Consumer Reports News: August 12, 2011 04:38 PM

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Ford has partnered with SunPower Corp. to offer a solar system to its customers to provide renewable energy for their electric car. The Ford Focus EV will be the company's first vehicle to be able to take advantage of this green power, though the solar system will be able to supply the C-Max plug-in hybrid and other upcoming electric models.

The complete solar system is estimated to cost $10,000 for a typical installation, after federal tax credits. Local incentives may further reduce the price, though some customers may need related roof or electrical work that could add to the cost.

The system uses SunPower E18 Series solar panels that produce an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The company says the high-efficiency panels produce more energy in less space than traditional panels, and the electricity generated would be enough to service an owner who drives 12,000 miles a year.

At today's gas prices, a car averaging 28 mpg (the Ford Focus' overall fuel economy in our tests) and driven for 12,000 miles a year, would consume $10,000 in fuel over 5.8 years. Of course, it would be consuming a non-renewable resource with volatile pricing and national security implications. On the other hand, a regular Focus has a longer range than a pure EV and can be refueled at any one of thousands of gas stations nationwide.

The SunPower system is offered in all 19 markets included in the initial Focus EV rollout: Atlanta; Austin and Houston, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Previously, Ford announced that it would sell a 240-volt home charging station through Best Buy.

—Jeff Bartlett