The major automakers are all focusing on alternative fuel sources in the economic recession with the consumers demand for low cost vehicles that dare fuel-efficient. Ford has announced a new intelligent system for plug-in hybrid vehicles that allows the hybrid cars to communicate with the electric grid.

The charging tech allows the car owner to program when the car will charge and for how long it will charge. The system even lets the user choose the utility rate they will pay to charge the vehicle meaning the user can charge the car at off peak hours.

Ford says that it plans to produce an electric commercial van called Transit Connect in 2010, a battery powered electric Focus in 2011, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012. The new charge system will allow these vehicles to further reduce their environment impact by only charging when power is the cheapest and most available.