The Ford Motor Company received some very good news from the Environmental Protection Agency this month. Its 5-passenger, 5-door pure electric hatchback has been rated at 110 MPGe in city driving, beating Nissan’s Leaf and offering the best fuel efficiency of any car in its class.
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric delivers top fuel efficiency and is the latest EV offering to hit the market thus far. The EPA states that the Focus Electric will get 99 MPGe on the highway or a combined 105 MPGe in city and highway driving. That gives the electrified Focus a 6 MPGe edge over the Leaf and with its 76-mile charging range, the Focus tops the Leaf’s range by three miles as well.
Made in Michigan
Production of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric began in December 2011 at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan. This model is powered by an electric traction motor that produces 141 horsepower and 188 foot pounds of torque; the electric Focus has a top speed of 84 miles per hour. LG Chem Ltd. is the battery cell supplier and the Piston Automotive Group is the battery cell manufacturer.
The Focus Electric’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery system is liquid cooled/heated and offers 23 kwh of capacity. This model can be recharged with a home 120-volt power outlet that takes 20 hours to recharge or it can be fast charged in four hours with a 240-volt power connection.
Well Equipped Model
Ford has priced the Focus EV from $39,995 and has equipped this model with amenities offered or available in the top of the line gas-powered Focus. Standard features include sporty 15-spoke seventeen inch aluminum wheels, push button start, a voice activated navigation system, SYNC with MyFord Touch including enhanced driving screens and HD radio. This model features an LED-illuminated external charge port and offers a rear-view camera.
The Focus Electric is available in three states immediately — New Jersey, New York and California. By the end of this year, Ford plans to make this vehicle available in nineteen markets across the country. This compares to the Nissan Leaf which is or soon will be available in all 50 states. The Leaf, however, had a 16-month head start on the electrified Focus, arriving on the market in December 2010.
Focus Electric Dimensions
The Ford Focus Electric is built on the same platform that underpins the standard Focus and, thus, it shares many of its same attributes except for an exhaust pipe. This front-wheel-drive hatchback is built on a wheelbase that measures 104.3 inches and is 172.9-inches long, 71.8 inches wide and 58.2 inches tall. The Focus Electric weighs in at 3,624 pounds.
One nifty feature sure to be embraced by techno-geeks is a Ford-developed MyFord Mobile app. Focus Electric owners who have a smartphone will be able to download a free app that allows them to remain in contact with their ride remotely. They’ll be able to track how much money they saved by not stopping at gas stations and the amount of carbon dioxide that wasn’t dumped into the atmosphere. MyFord Mobile will also help owners find the best nearby EV charging ports and track the most efficient routes to their destinations. Social media activity and connectivity will also be possible with Twitter and Facebook.
Matt Keegan is an automotive columnist and is manager of the online Auto Trends Magazine. Matt writes about all types of vehicles from SUVs to the Ford Focus Electric.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company.