• August 10, 2011

Ford, which is launching an electric Focus car this year, is also offering a rooftop solar system as an option. The solar panels, via SunPower Corp., allow Focus Electric owners to generate enough energy to offset the electricity required to charge the vehicle at night.

The program, offered as "Drive Green for Life" option, comprises a 2.5-kilowatt rooftop solar system that generates 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The system, which SunPower says generates approximately 50% more electricity than conventional panels, was sized to accommodate a customer who drives about 1,000 miles per month.

The option is not cheap initially, but the companies say that after federal tax credits the panels are about $10,000 -- and local and state rebates can reduce the cost further, depending on the state. The package includes a residential monitoring system, where you can track performance on the Web or through an iPhone application.

SunPower says it has 400 dealers in the U.S., and can support the initial Focus Electric rollout in all 19 markets.

In January, Ford announced an agreement with consumer electronics leader Best Buy to offer a 240-volt home charging station for the Focus Electric and future electric vehicle owners.