What It Is:
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is a battery-powered version of the redesigned 2012 Ford Focus hatchback. Unlike the Chevrolet Volt, the Focus Electric does not have a gasoline engine that serves as an onboard generator, which means it is a pure electric vehicle that emits zero emissions, but is limited by battery range and recharging times. Ford claims that the Focus Electric can be fully charged in half the time of a Nissan Leaf, in as little as 4 hours with the optional home charging system. Planning to put the car on sale at the end of 2011, Ford did not offer details on price or driving range when the Focus Electric made its debut at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
What’s New for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric:
- Pure Electric – The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is powered solely by a lithium ion battery pack driving the car’s front wheels through a single-speed transmission. Ford says the Focus Electric will have a driving range that meets the daily requirements of most American drivers, and can be recharged in four hours or less using an optional 240-volt home recharging system. Recharging time takes longer with the standard 120-volt convenience cord that is included with the car.
- Advanced Battery Pack – Engineered by Ford in collaboration with battery supplier LG Chem, the Focus Electric’s lithium ion battery pack has an advanced thermal management system designed to extend the range and life of the batteries. An “active liquid system” heats or chills the system’s coolant to regulate battery temperature regardless of weather conditions, thereby maximizing travel range.
- Smart Charging Technology – When charging the new Focus Electric, owners can make sure they’re taking advantage of off-peak utility rates thanks to its “value charging system,” powered by Microsoft. Ford says the Microsoft system takes a “set it and forget it” approach, reducing complexity for the car’s owner.
- MyFord Mobile Smartphone App – Ford has developed a new smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that allows the Focus Electric’s owner to monitor the car’s charge status, retrieve information about the vehicle, receive alerts that the car requires charging or is finished charging, and program the car to “pre-condition” itself by using electricity from the grid to heat or cool the battery pack and cabin. MyFord Mobile can also help the owner locate the car via GPS, remotely start the car and operate the door locks, and send directions to nearby charging locations to the Focus Electric’s Sync Traffic, Directions and Information system.
- Focus Electric Gives You Butterflies – Ford’s MyFord Touch in-dash display is tailored specifically for the Focus Electric. It communicates the battery pack’s state of charge, the distance to next programmed charging point, range budget to reach the next charging point, and expected range margin based on current energy usage. In much the same way that leafy green vines communicate to a Ford Fusion Hybrid’s driver how economically he or she is driving via the car’s gauge cluster display, the Focus Electric employs blue butterflies to illustrate how much extra battery charge is expected to remain upon arrival at the next programmed charging point. The more blue butterflies there are, the more charge there is remaining. Other technologies include MyView, which provides a deeper dive into vehicle systems and how they are impacting battery range, and a navigation system with an Eco Route function that helps the driver choose the route that will best preserve battery range.
- Driving Dynamism – Ford says that because the Focus Electric is based on the five-door hatchback version of the redesigned 2012 Focus, it will be a “dynamic driver’s car” in addition to being gasoline- and emissions-free. Top speed is 84 mph, and the majority of the standard Focus’s steering, braking, and suspension components carry over to the Electric model. Plus, with lots of torque on tap from the moment the driver steps on the accelerator, the Focus Electric should prove quite lively off the line.
- Lots of Standard Equipment – Ford plans to sell the Focus Electric as a well-equipped model, complete with MyFord Touch technology, Sync hands-free communication, push-button ignition, a Sony premium audio system with HD Radio capability and Sirius satellite radio with Travel Link, and a voice-activated navigation system. Bio-foam seat cushions covered in fabric crafted from recycled materials are examples of the eco-friendly material Ford is using inside the Focus Electric’s cabin. And with its 60/40 split rear bench seat, the Focus Electric retains the useful functionality of its hatchback design, too.
The Vehix View:
While we’re big fans of the Chevrolet Volt because it features a propulsion system that effectively bridges the gap between gasoline and electric cars, it nevertheless represents a compromise of sorts. The reality is that most Americans drive about 15,000 miles annually, or 41.1 miles per day. Given that the 2012 Ford Focus Electric is likely to have twice that distance in usable range, it seems to make pretty good sense for people with predictable driving requirements. A quick four-hour charging time also helps mitigate the impact of electric car ownership. The question that remains, then, pertains to price. If Ford can bring the Focus Electric in with a sticker that effectively competes with the Nissan Leaf, it looks like the company will further endear itself to American consumers.
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