Ford Motor and Silicon Valley-based SunPower Corp. are offering a plan that could reduce the cost of owning soon to launch Ford Focus electric vehicle. They are teaming up to offer customers a rooftop solar system, allowing  owners of the Focus electric to "Drive Green for Life" by providing customers with enough clean, renewable energy to offset the electricity used to charge the vehicle. "Under the 'Drive Green for Life' program, Focus Electric owners can reduce their total cost of ownership by generating enough energy from their high efficiency SunPower rooftop solar system to offset the electricity required to charge the vehicle at night," said Mike Tinskey, Ford director of Global Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure. "It's an eco-friendly solution that perfectly complements our plug-in products and other green initiatives."
Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. said the innovative partnership is a win-win for customers, providing a comprehensive sustainability program.  The 2.5 kilowatt rooftop solar system is comprised of the SunPower® E18 Series solar panels that produce an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These high-efficiency solar panels generate approximately 50 percent more electricity than conventional panels and utilize a smaller footprint on the roof. The system was sized to accommodate a customer who drives about 1,000 miles per month.
The complete SunPower solar system is offered at a base price of less than $10,000, after federal tax credits. Local and state rebates, along with other incentives, may drive the system cost down even more, depending on a customer's location. By Joseph Szczesny