WASHINGTON — A communications link between plug-in hybrid vehicles and the U.S. electrical grid is designed to allow vehicle owners to determine when and for how long to recharge car batteries. according to developers at the Ford Motor Co.

Ford's said its package of technologies allows plug-in hybrids to "talk" directly with the national electrical grid. The car maker's Synch and SmartGauge technologies among others are being touted as allowing car owners to program when and for how long they recharge their vehicle batteries.

"This vehicle-to-grid communication technology is an important step in the journey toward the widespread commercialization of electric vehicles," company chairman William Ford said in a statement.

The company next plans to demonstrate the comminications technology with utility partners. "Direct communication between vehicles and the grid can only be accomplished through collaboration between automakers and utility companies, which Ford and its partners are demonstrating with this technology," added Greg Frenette, manager of Ford's Battery Electric Vehicle Applications unit.

Ford is working with state and local utilities around the country along with the U.S. Energy Department and the Electric Power Research Institute to develop the technologies.

Among Ford's industry partners on the comminications project are Smith Electric Vehicles, Magma International and Johnson Controls-Saft. Ford and Magma are jointly developing the Ford Focus battery electric vehicle due in 2011. Ford's first production plug-in hybrid vehicle is scheduled to hit the market in 2012.