General Electric (GE) has agreed to buy Ford Motor's 2,000 C-MAX plug-in hybrid vehicles as the company plans to convert half of its global fleet to alternative fuel vehicles.
As part of the agreement, Ford will also jointly market GE's alternative fuel infrastructure solutions and promote GE's WattStation charging station and CNG in a Box natural gas fueling station.
GE aims to buy 25,000 alternative fuel vehicles, and the purchase of 2,000 Ford vehicles brings the company's fleet to over 5,000 units.
According to GE, the Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid offers a 21-mile electric-only range, a 108-mpg city EPA rating and a 620-mile single-tank driving range.
The deal will also see Ford supply new alternative fuel vehicles for use at GE's Vehicle Innovation Center at the headquarters of GE's fleet management business in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, US.
Ford vice president of US marketing, sales and service Ken Czubay said, "Ford is launching six new electrified vehicles - a big bet that fuel prices will continue rising and lead to more demand for advanced fuel-efficient vehicles."
Both the firms plan to work with researchers from Georgia Tech to study GE employees' driving and charging habits.
