General Electric has agreed to purchase 2,000 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid cars from Ford for its corporate fleet, bringing the total to 5,000, or 10 percent of the overall corporate fleet, according to a report from the Associated Press on Tuesday. As part of the deal, Ford will promote GE’s WattStation electric vehicle charging stations and CNG In a Box natural gas fueling stations. The companies are also joining with the Georgia Tech to monitor GE employee driving habits through a MyFord mobile app. GE’s goal is to convert half its fleet to clean energy vehicles.
The C-MAX Energi, a utility vehicle which Ford says gets 47 miles per gallon combined highway and city driving, is due to be released before the end of the year and, at $29,995, will be one of the cheapest hybrids available after tax rebates.