GE buys 2,000 Ford plug-in hybrids for fleet

[November 20, 2012]  DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- GE is buying 2,000 plug-in hybrid cars from Ford for its corporate fleet.

Ford and GE announced the purchase Tuesday.

GE has set a goal of converting half its fleet to alternative energy vehicles. With the Ford purchase, GE now has 5,000 alternative-fuel vehicles, or about 10 percent of its fleet.

Ford will promote GE's electric vehicle charging stations as part of the agreement.

The two companies also plan to work with researchers from Georgia Tech University to study employees' driving and charging habits. The results of those studies will be shared with other companies that want to add electric cars to their fleets.

The C-Max Energi went on sale this month. It can go around 20 miles in all-electric mode before a gas engine kicks in.

[Associated Press]

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