1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Ford slashes Focus EV price by $6000, now selling for $29995

Discussion in 'Ford/Lincoln Hybrids and EVs' started by Ashlem, Oct 19, 2014.

  1. Ashlem

    Ashlem Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2013
    754
    502
    0
    Location:
    WI
    Vehicle:
    2017 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    When I bought my first Focus, new in 2002, it ended up being the most unreliable car I've ever owned. Nearly every part had been replaced, alternator replaced twice.

    Sold it for $3500 with 68k miles on it. The buyer thought they got a deal.....boy they were in for a surprise.
     
    #2 JC91006, Oct 19, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2014
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    They don't want to sell any, at least here the don't. The Focus EV has been available in the UK for over a year and they've sold 12! The car hasn't been advertised, it is hidden on the Ford.co.uk website and only available from 2 Ford dealers. Somewhat restrictive, but then I'd wonder if that is the idea.

    Experience the Focus Electric for yourself
    FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC - How Many Left?

    Nissan by contrast has sold 1,700 Leafs in the first 6 months of this year so there is an appetite for EVs here;

    NISSAN LEAF (model family) - How Many Left?

    Shame because I quite like the Focus. It's very similar size to the Prius and a similar style and I've had nothing but strong reliability from the Fords I've owned.
     
  4. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    They lose money on every one they sell and are forced to sell them by government fiat so there is no reason for them to encourage sales.
     
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    They're not forced to sell them here, so it seems strange that they go to all the expense of producing a Right Hand Drive version and then try their hardest not to sell any.
     
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I know you and I don't always see eye to eye, but how can Ford not sell more of than 12 of their well regarded EV? Just try and find it on the Ford UK website. The link is hidden at the bottom in the main page but not on the 'Focus' or 'Future Vehicles' section as an option, which would seem the more obvious place.

    Even Robert Llewellyn mentioned that Ford were less than enthusiastic to push their Focus EV.
     
  8. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The Focus EV is what I call a compliance plus car. California's ZEV regulations is what spurred Ford to offer it, but they allowed it to be sold outside California. Unlike Toyota, Chevy, and Fiat BEVs. It is a conversion, and made in small numbers, so they aren't likely making much at all on them. This price reduction is coming almost a year after everybody else dropped their prices.

    As to why bother selling it outside Ca? Publicity and market research. Ford may not want to sell them, but with Nissan and Tesla, they don't want to be caught off guard if BEVs look like they could take off.
     
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    My 'wow' was not directed at you Grumpy. I was just thinking that in the US the car after tax credits is about the same cost as a Prius.

    As for you, as a Tory you are quite all right ;)
    I am however looking forward to the day that you realize that science has it right with regards to AGW, and you then rebel against the propagandists.
     
  10. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    lol you don't know my political leanings. Mainly because I don't know them. I often play devils advocate on here too just to confuse the issue. You may have seen my negative comments about our Etonian Tory leaders.

    Thankfully over here your political leanings have no influence over whether you're a believer or non believer of global warming.
     
  11. hybridbear

    hybridbear Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2013
    267
    69
    0
    Location:
    Minneapolis
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    I find that only a little surprising. The Focus EV is built on the same assembly line as the gas Focus with no interruption in production. Ford designed it to have no impact on their production process. Focus EVs are not built as a special run, but rather they just come through the assembly line as needed.
     
  12. hybridbear

    hybridbear Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2013
    267
    69
    0
    Location:
    Minneapolis
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    We own a Focus EV and it is an incredible car. The acceleration is great, handling is good, range is excellent. Overall we love it. I hope that this price drop signals that Ford will sell more. They could be selling more now if they just were to distribute them better throughout the country. They send almost all of them to Cali or Atlanta and ppl in other parts of the USA who want them have to convince a dealer to special order one for them.
     
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,600
    8,034
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Well - before the thread gets more zombie goin' on ... we had one park next to us at work yesterday ...
    [​IMG]

    have seen a few on the road ... but this was up close and personal -
    .
     
    #13 hill, Mar 27, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    how does it compare to the spark?
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,600
    8,034
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The Ford - It looked less narrow than a spark . . . & less tall . . . & less econo-box than the spark. The two cars come in regular gasser version, so their style had little to do with fact that each company has ev versions. That's my impression just from a visual perspective.
    .
     
    #15 hill, Mar 28, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2015
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The Focus is a size class larger than the Spark to begin with, but the Spark does have a longer range. The Focus Electric range hasn't increased since it first arrived. I think the Leaf has at least a little. All go farther than the i-MiEV, which closest in size to the Spark.

    Compare Side-by-Side
     
  17. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    The Leaf didn't have it's range increased. Nissan removed the charge to 80% feature, so EPA adjusted it's numbers to reflect 100% charge, hence the appeared increase in range. I was highly interested in the Ford, especially for it's battery management system over the Leaf, but the lack of DC charging lost me as a potential customer (along with the compliance car level of sales).
     
    Trollbait likes this.
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The SAE DC combo plug charge standard wasn't set yet when the Focus E came out. With the Spark rolling out to at least one more state, and other models(E-Golf) using it, I don't see why Ford wouldn't offer it in future BEVs.
     
  19. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,600
    8,034
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Has Ford announced any plans in that regard?
     
  20. PriusC_Commuter

    PriusC_Commuter Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    914
    307
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles/ Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base