Ford and CenterPoint Energy Team Up To Prepare Houston Area for Electric Vehicles

Ford Motor Company and CenterPoint Energy announced a collaboration to help prepare the Houston area for the operation of electric vehicles. Ford and CenterPoint Energy will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical infrastructure can support the necessary demand.

The Ford and CenterPoint Energy collaboration also includes developing strategies to minimize the emissions and distribution impacts of charging electric vehicles by using statewide system renewable energy resources and more efficient use of household electricity. This will be achieved by leveraging and showcasing CenterPoint Energy's smart meter and intelligent grid deployment coupled with Ford's smart charging solutions.‬‪

Electrification is an important piece of Ford's overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, power assisted steering, aerodynamic improvements and light weighting materials. Ford's electrification strategy also leverages the most fuel-efficient powertrains, the most technically competent hybrids and our global vehicle platforms in order to develop affordable choices for consumers.

Technology Projects Aim to Transform Energy Management for Residents, Businesses

The city of Vancouver, Cisco and Pulse Energy announced a collaborative relationship designed to accelerate the development of Vancouver's green-energy goals. The effort with Cisco and Pulse Energy is the latest in Vancouver's ongoing initiatives to showcase the city as an economic hub for the advancement of clean technology, develop a network of specialized partners, and improve energy efficiency and management.

Beginning in 2010, the three parties will work to advance Vancouver's green-energy vision by implementing technologies for building-energy management, home-energy management, urban carbon-footprint reduction and data center efficiency.

Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world and recently launched the Greenest City initiative with a goal of making Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020.

The city of Vancouver, Cisco and Pulse Energy are joining together to explore opportunities that will transform the city's energy and environmental strategy through the use of innovative technology.

Cisco and Itron Join Forces to Deliver Next-Generation Smart Grid Platform

Itron Inc. and Cisco recently announced a strategic alliance that will advance the transformation of the world's energy infrastructure. Together, the two will deliver a definitive 21st century Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications platform to the smart grid market and help advance more consistent and reliable delivery of energy across the electric distribution system and into homes and businesses.

Itron and Cisco -- world leaders in smart metering and networking communications, respectively -- will collaborate on solutions that will transition smart metering technology into an open and interoperable, enterprise-class network for utilities. Specifically, the two companies will develop a standards-based, highly secure technology for full IPv6 implementation of field area communications to support smart metering, intelligent distribution automation and interfaces to the customer premise. Such an approach will help ensure consistent and interoperable wired and wireless communications among the various components of the smart grid, enabling utilities to scale to meet the demands of increasingly empowered customers and highly distributed generation portfolios.

Itron will license and embed Cisco IP technology within its OpenWay® meters as well as distribute Cisco networking equipment and software as part of its smart meter deployments. Itron will continue to provide the complete solution and maintain its customer relationships.