GE to buy 2,000 Ford hybrids

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DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. said it would sell 2,000 electric cars to GE in a partnership deal in which Ford will promote GE recharging systems.

Ford said GE would buy 2,000 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrids in the firm's largest fleet sale of gasoline-electricity-powered vehicles.

With the purchase, GE will have 5,000 alternative fuel vehicles on the road. The company's goal is to bump that up to 25,000, which would be half of its global fleet.

"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," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

The sale to GE has at least two ulterior motivations, Ford said. One is to promote GE's WattStation and CNG in a Box, part of the infrastructure designed to recharge electric cars.

Secondly, the Georgia Institute of Technology plans to study the driving habits of GE staff to learn how to "optimize all-electric driving," Ford said in a statement.