Microsoft Hohm Now Focus on Electric Cars Charging

Microsoft is now shifting the Hohm focus to emphasize electric-vehicle charging, according to a company executive.

Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Green conference in California Tuesday, Rob Bernard, said Microsoft is focusing Hohm to work with Ford's all-electric Focus to manage electric-vehicle charging at home.

Microsoft will continue to offer Hohm to consumers and utilities. But Bernard said the electric car angle might be better suited for Holm, which in its repurposed role would give Ford Focus owners info that would allow them to recharge their vehicles during cheaper, off-peak hours.

"Microsoft launched Hohm almost two years ago as a free application for consumers to monitor energy use and get tips on how to improve efficiency. It has signed on fewer than 10 utilities which use Hohm to provide consumers with electricity data online and it has partnered to provide electricity monitoring using a home's Wi-Fi connection."

But despite those efforts, the reception from utilities and consumers has not been what Microsoft had hoped originally, Bernard, said.

"We aren't seeing the level of traction in home monitoring than we had hoped for so we're increasing our focus on EVs and making them more connected," Bernard said, adding that Microsoft intends to learn from its experience so far.