The electric car train has left the station and Ford is not on it…at least so it would seem from today’s latest Ford news release.
Ford today debuted the all new electric Focus at CES in Las Vegas, and promised that it will officially launch in North America at the end of 2011, and in Europe sometime before 2013.
Which is all well and good, if not for the simple fact that EV car buyers can already head to their local Nissan dealership and purchase the Leaf, or perhaps walk across the street and pick up a Chevy Volt from GM.
The electric car market certainly is only in its infancy, but just like anything else in business being first to market is a significant advantage. Nissan, GM and even Tesla have a significant advantage in the EV marketplace with their EV cars. Ford will now have to play a serious game of catch-up.
“Focus Electric is the flagship of our new family of electrified vehicles, showcasing our commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. “Its advanced powertrain will deliver significant energy efficiency advantages and zero CO2 emissions without compromising driving enjoyment. And its suite of smart driver information technologies will transform the way customers think about energy usage and their transportation needs.”
Of course that’s only if they can actually buy the car…which they can’t today.
The EV Focus brings the usual the electric car advantages to the table including:
– 100-kilowatt electric motor with a 23-kWh battery
– 123 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque
– top speed of 84 miles per hour
– 100 miles of EV range just like the Nissan Leaf
But unlike the Nissan Leaf Ford says the EV Focus can be charged in just just three hours…that is if you happen to have the 240-volt home-installed charging station installed in your garage.
According to Ford, “Off-board, Focus Electric owners in North America will be able to maintain constant contact with the car anywhere they have mobile phone access using the Ford-developed MyFord Mobile app.
MyFord Mobile is an app that enables access via a smartphone or web-based interface to:
- Receive instant vehicle status information
- Perform key functions remotely
- Monitor the car’s state of charge and current range
- Get alerts when it requires charging or has finished charging
- Remotely program charge settings and download vehicle data for analysis”
Check out the video below as we had a chance to test drive the old EV focus and compare it to a hybrid car.
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