DEARBORN, Mich., June 3, 2010 -- Ford has announced that it is teaming up with Coulomb Technologies to install battery chargers in the homes for some of Ford’s first electric vehicle owners. The program is part of the Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program. Some customers who buy a Ford Transit Connect electric vehicle will get the system for free.

The program requires $37 million to implement, with the funds coming from a grant from the Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Around 5,000 home and public ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations will be installed in Austin, Texas; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area; Redmond, Wash.; and Washington D.C.

“Both the ChargePoint America and Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Programs help build the necessary infrastructure to make the electric vehicle a more viable option for American consumers,” said Sue Cischke, global vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. “Ford’s electrification strategy focuses on providing real world value to customers with a range of driving behaviors and conditions. These programs and charging stations help us deliver an added value to our future electric vehicle owners.”

Ford says it will unveil five electric vehicles in North America by 2012: Transit Connect Electric, Ford Focus Electric, two next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid-electric vehicles, and a plug-in hybrid.

Managers of businesses who are interested in getting a free public charging station can visit www.chargepointamerica.com for more information.

“ChargePoint America builds upon our established and growing network of charging stations and will in turn encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “Our Department of Energy grant was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill, to provide jobs for Americans. Our products are built and installed with American labor. Every time we ship a ChargePoint charging station, three Americans go to work for a day.”

Coulomb’s ChargePoint® Network is available to any electric vehicle owner. Drivers can access the charge station by either calling a 24/7 phone number or signing up for a ChargePoint Network monthly access plan and getting a ChargePass™ smart card. Future payment options include using a smart (RFID) credit card or even a standard debit/credit card.

The following is a video press release from ChargePoint America.