At the New York Auto Show last week, we had the chance to talk with Ford’s Ed Pleet about the automaker’s electric cars and, more specifically, a new partnership with Microsoft. Central to the pairing is the software maker’s ‘Hohm’ application, which enables consumers to manage their electricity use.

Hohm helps consumers reduce energy consumption and take advantage of lower prices during off-peak hours. Ford’s forthcoming battery electric vehicles will integrate to the software to bring car charging into that equation.