There’s been lots of talk about how electric vehicles aren’t really zero emission cars because of the emissions that are produced to build them and run them. Now, Ford Motor Co. is attempting to change part of that equation. The company is building a large solar energy system at its assembly plant in Michigan to help power manufacturing of its electric cars, company officials said today.

The car manufacturer is teaming up with two utilities — Detroit-based DTE Energy and Austin’s Xtreme Power — to build the solar power station in Wayne, Mich.

The 500-kilowatts of solar panels will produce energy that will be stored at a battery storage facility that can store 2 million watt-hours of energy, enough to power 100 homes for a year, the company said.

The solar energy will be used to manufacture the Ford Focus electric line and other plug-in hybrids and hybrids. Ten electric vehicle charging stations will also be installed at the station to power electric switcher trucks.

The solar power systems are expected to save $160,000 a year in energy costs and Ford is estimated to spend $800,000 in the project.

This is big news in the world of the alternative transportation market because it sets the precedent for companies to use renewable energy across the production process.