Ford chief executive Alan Mulally expects the company to sell plug-in hybrids in five to 10 years.
"Within five to 10 years we will start to see this technology in our hands," Mulally said on the sidelines of a press event to announce an alliance between Ford and California electricity firm Edison to test 20 rechargeable electric vehicles.
When asked if that meant plug-in hybrids would be available on showroom floors, he said: "Yes. Sure."
Mulally said the rollout of Ford plug-in hybrids is dependent on advancements to lithium-ion batteries that will be charged by the car's owners using regular household electrical outlets.
He declined to give a more precise production target, saying: "I can't go further than that. We will know a lot more in the next few years."
The comments were the first time Ford has offered a timeline for producing plug-in hybrids.
The alliance between the car firm and the second-biggest US electric company is a first of its kind.
Many environmental advocates see plug-in hybrid vehicles as the best available technology to reduce petrol consumption and global-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmentalists, who have targeted Ford in the past, welcomed the tie-up between the car giant and the electricity firm, saying it showed Ford was back in the race for electric car technology with Toyota and General Motors.
Ford will work with an as-yet unnamed battery company to make the plug-ins for the joint-company tests.
Mulally cautioned that the commercial rollout of the still experimental vehicles depends on advances in battery technology, an assessment shared by other rival car firms.
General Motors (GM) - parent company of Opel, Saab and Chevrolet among others - began development work this year on its own plug-in hybrid car.
It showed off a concept version of the Chevrolet Volt in January and has set 2010 as a target for production.
Plug-in hybrids are designed to use little or no petrol over short distances and at lower speeds.
- Reuters