Ford unveils electric Focus with 75-mile range, 85mph top speed

[Rybold]

The Focus goes on sale in the United States in 2010 and
a battery-electric version of the Focus is scheduled to go on sale by 2011. http://www.freep.com/article/20090915/BUSINESS01/909150406/1322/Ford-unveils-U.S.-bound-compact-minivan

September 16, 2009 4:58 AM PDT By: Wayne Cunningham
Ford Focus BEV
Ford partnered with automotive parts supplier Magna to quickly develop this electric version of the Ford Focus. It uses a 100 kilowatt motor and 23 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack for a range of 75 miles and a top speed of 85 mph.
Photo credit: CNET
Electric cars at the Frankfurt auto show - CNET Reviews

In North America, Ford plans to build both the Ford Focus and a battery-electric Ford Focus at Michigan Assembly in Wayne -- opening up the possibility that Ford could also produce the C-Max there.
The Focus goes on sale in the United States in 2010 and a battery-electric version of the Focus is scheduled to go on sale by 2011.
http://www.freep.com/article/2009091...ompact-minivan


More info:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...ype-photos.php

[drees]

I wonder how much these will cost.

This looks to be very similar to the ones they are racing on The Jay Leno Show. This article on Autoblog Green has some video.

VIDEO: Ford engineers show off the new Focus BEV for the Jay Leno Show — Autoblog Green

[Rybold]

I saw this new car on the Jay Leno Show tonight. It looked great and it appeared to drive great when Drew Barrymore threw it around the race track.

[Rokeby]

This is really good news. It puts Ford at least in the running of the
behind the scenes technological race to bring the new generation of EVs
onto the market. Sure there are EVs available now, like the Tesla, but
they are for the most part high dollar sports cars.

What about just basic commuter cars for you and me? Now Ford joins
Mitsubishi, Nissan, Think, BYD, Mini, Hyundai, Aptera, Smart, Subaru,
MB, and other makers who are looking to provide the cars of the
future; roadable, highway capable electric cars with meaningful
ranges.

My hat is off to Ford. When I get news of Focus EV beta test cars in the
hands of real drivers like you and me, I can be certain that this is
serious, and not another case of pie-in-the-sky, low-Voltage
vaporware.

And what about Toyota? Well, there is this at least:

"...Toyota has been talking about a city car with a price tag under $20,000,
reports The Detroit News. That hints at a possible EV version of the iQ,
which has been tipped for possible U.S. sale at a starting price under the
base-level Yaris's $12,000 list price. Whether the new EV would share the
Scion badge that's expected for the iQ, however, is unclear.

"The battery-powered concept car could be a short-range-only vehicle,
unsuitable for highway use, reports The Wall Street Journal. If that's the
case, it wouldn't likely fare well in the U.S. outside of New York City or
similarly population-dense locales..."

From:
Toyota announces battery-powered FT-EV concept for Detroit Auto Show - MotorAuthority

It sounds like a DNF (Did Not Finish) in this race.

[TonyPSchaefer]

yep, 75 miles would get me to and from work and run a few errands along the way.

[daniel]

Originally Posted by Rybold

I saw this new car on the Jay Leno Show tonight. It looked great and it appeared to drive great when Drew Barrymore threw it around the race track.

Anything would look great with Drew Barrymore in, on, or around it!

But I applaud Ford for doing this. Now build the damn thing for sale to the public for crissake!!!

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

"The battery-powered concept car could be a short-range-only vehicle,
unsuitable for highway use, reports The Wall Street Journal. If that's the
case, it wouldn't likely fare well in the U.S. outside of New York City or
similarly population-dense locales..."

The city would be the perfect place for this car. It does not go on the highway, it does not go long ranges, it can fit brilliantly into parking spaces - it's perfect for the city. For people that live out in the country (I have multiple different relatives that live out there), they have to drive a good distance to go to the local store or the grocery store or anywhere else. Those are the people that need a car that can go highway speeds and travel further ranges.
(yes, I realize that you quoted the WSJ, and those are not your own words)

[DrJon]

Originally Posted by Rybold

I saw this new car on the Jay Leno Show tonight. It looked great and it appeared to drive great when Drew Barrymore threw it around the race track.

LOL, yeah, I'm sure you were focused on the finer handling aspects!!!

[fjpod]

perfect for the city??,...except where are you going to plug it in? A city dweller would have no option but to rent a space in a high priced parking garage, ...and then pay extra to plug into one of their outlets, assuming they had one.

And the 6 to 8 hour charge time is just a lot of down time.

There is just "something wrong" with a car that you can't just get in and go.

I'm all for cleaner vehicles...and I know we've got to start somewhere. Hybrids make sense right now. Plug-ins do also for someone who can recharge in their driveway or garage. A pure electric car? This will be a niche product for quite some time.

I am now 55 years old. since I was a kid of about 12, I would read magazines like Popular Mechanics, Road and Track, and other news magazines. Every so often, I would read a story that went like this, "We will all be driving electric cars within 5 years". It will come, but probably when I am dead.

[hill]

Originally Posted by daniel

Anything would look great with Drew Barrymore in, on, or around it!

But I applaud Ford for doing this. Now build the damn thing for sale to the public for crissake!!!

amen!

.