6:17 pm, January 7, 2011
FORD has revealed an all-electric Ford Focus will arrive in UK dealerships by 2013.
Capable of charging in half the time a Nissan Leaf takes, the Focus will offer a mile-per-gallon equivalent that beats a Chevrolet Volt, says the maker.
Ford says the electric Focus will be capable of charging in three to four hours at home with a wall-mounted 240-volt charge station.
A clever partnership with Microsoft will also allow owners in the US – and most likely Europe too – to charge their vehicles when electricity is cheapest.
‘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.’
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The Focus Electric will launch in America in late 2011 and is designed to offer enough range to cover the majority of daily driving habits.
Ford says a decision on where the Focus Electric will be built for European markets is currently being finalised.
One clever aspect of the Focus Electric will be the MyFord Mobile app – this will allow owners to access key information about the vehicle, such as state of charge and available range, on their mobile phone.
Kuzak added: ‘Focus Electric is the culmination of years of research and development. More importantly, it’s the start of an exciting new era for Ford and our customers.’
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