Ford Motor Company just officially started production on its new Ford Focus Electric 2012 model in its Wayne, Michigan assembly plant. The Ford Focus Electric is the first EV of its kind to receive a 100 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) fuel efficiency rating, and it charges two times faster than the Nissan Leaf – the only other electric vehicle in its class. One third of Ford’s 2012 vehicle lineup consists of cars that get 40 mpg or better fuel ratings. The company has completely revamped its Wayne factory to create a flexible assembly line, and it has installed one of the largest solar power generation systems in the state. We can’t wait to see the zero-emission Ford Focus Electric start arriving at dealerships soon!
“The Focus Electric is a shining example of the leading fuel economy Ford is offering for each new vehicle,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Whether people want a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full battery-electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles.” Ford has decided that in this new year they’ll start offering a full line of vehicles for customers looking for fuel-efficiency – they’re calling it the fuel-efficient Power of Choice. The Ford Focus Electric will be available with optional 240 volt quick charge outlets, which will bring the full charge time down to 3 hours with a 1 hour charging capacity of 30 miles, making the Focus a great all-electric choice for drivers constantly on the move.
We’re happy to see that electric vehicles are finally making it through the assembly plants, into dealerships, and landing in the garages of efficiency-minded drivers across the country. The Ford Focus Electric is the third widely marketed EV of its class in America — the fully electric Nissan Leaf and the plug-in hybrid electric Chevy Volt are the other two. In a study this year, Ford showed that 45 percent of customers say fuel economy is their top consideration when buying a new vehicle – styling comes in a distant second with only 16 percent of participants saying looks are their top buying factor.
+ Ford
Via In Auto News
At $40,000, this is a pricey EV. You would have to own it for 15+ years to recoup the cost in fuel savings compared to the gas-powered Focus.
Why does “green” have to be so expensive and uneconomical in the long-run? This is the sort of car that the average blue collar grunt would want as a commuter and would truly help their families. But at $40k, it is yet another play thing for the rich. At $40k, one could buy a Lexus, BMW, Mercedes or Audi and get something much nicer.