Dive Brief:

• Ford has developed an electric vehicle with solar panels on its roof. The concept car would be powered by solar-based charging stations, a move that would bypass utilities.
• The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which is still in the development phase, would use concentrating solar to charge EVs. The concentrating solar charging stations would let the car's batteries charge more quickly than by just sitting in the sun.
• Ford, which expects to sell 85,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles in 2013, believes on off-grid charging system would be easier to implement than one tied to the grid.

Dive Insight:

Utilities have been eagerly looking at EVs as a possible new source of electric demand. But if Ford's concept of solar charging stations proves doable, the vision of a huge surge in utility demand may not pan out the way utilities hope.