The announcement from Ford and Southern California Edison about their plug-in hybrid vehicle joint electric transportation initiative is now starting out in California. Some hints leaked out earlier today, but the full details have been kept under wraps until now. I've described the news below, and you can read the full, official announcement after the jump.

Ford and Edison will work together on a "multi-million dollar, multi-year PHEV evaluation and demonstration program." This means that Ford will give SCE a demonstration fleet of 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs that will be converted by Ford and a "battery company partner yet to be named" to be fully PHEV capable. SCE will test the Escapes, and, "Some of the vehicles will be evaluated in typical customer settings in order to model overall home and grid values this technology could tap." Does that mean customers will be able to test them? Unclear. But the good news is that "As Ford's plug-in hybrid program grows, the automaker will look for broader participation as it develops a business model not just for Southern California, but potentially nationwide."

Alan Mulally, Ford president and chief executive officer, and John Bryson, chairman and chief executive officer of Southern California Edison's parent company Edison International, are on hand at Edison International corporate headquarters for the event. The deal is the first time a major automaker and a large electricity utility are working together on PHEV testing.

The first official press release does not say how many 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs will be part of this fleet. Earlier reports pegged the number as 20 by 2009. If that's true, then it's awful low. I understand that we're dealing with untested technology, but only 20 by 2009? C'mon Ford. Do something bold here. Heck, GM is testing 100 fuel cell cars starting later this year and there's a real good chance customers will have a few plug in options by 2010ish (the Chevy Volt, perhaps, or the Tesla Whitestar). I'm in favor of working on PHEVs, but testing 20 in 2009 just isn't going to cut it in the upcoming PHEV marketplace. Hopefully the early reports were wrong.

Ford has some experience with PHEVs with their HySeries Drive concept unveiled in DC in January. Quantum announced in March they would convert 20 standard 2008 Ford Escape Hybrids into demonstration plug in vehicles. Remember, full details after the break.


Related:

• Ford unveils PHEV Ford Edge with HySeries Drive at DC Auto Show
• Quantum announces $2.1 million plug-in hybrid deal with California's South Coast AQMD

[Source: Ford]

We're still waiting for the official announcement from Ford and Southern California Edison on their plug-in hybrid plans, which will be coming in a few hours, but the AP has come out with a story that gives us a few more details on this "effort to speed up delivery of mass produced hybrid vehicles to the marketplace."

Looks like SCE wil get one Ford PHEV by the end of the year and 20 in 2009 for tests. Both the utility and selected customers will drive the cars and feed Ford the data. I can already imagine that there will be a loooong line of people signing up to get one of these cars if SCE accepts applications. Stay tuned for more later today, as the official announcement should come around 2:30 Pacific time.

[Source: AP, h/t to Linton/Hugg]