Ford to be the second automaker to begin selling a pure-electric vehicle

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-ford-focus-electrice-20110124,0,3834571.story

By G. Chambers Williams III, New York Times News Service

6:56 p.m. EST, January 24, 2011



Ford Motor Co. will be the second major automaker to begin selling a mass-market pure-electric vehicle when the 2012 Focus Electric hits showrooms late this year. snip

Also like the Leaf, the Focus Electric will have a range of about 100 miles on a full battery charge. But the 240-volt charging system that will be offered with the Focus, at a cost of about $1,500, will be able to recharge the battery in three to four hours. The Leaf's 240-volt charger takes seven to eight hours and costs more than $2,000.

Another difference between the Leaf and Focus chargers is that the Leaf's must be hard-wired into the electrical system in the owner's garage or parking location, while the charger for the Focus will be portable.

It can be plugged into a 240-volt outlet, just like plugging in a clothes dryer or room air conditioner. That makes it portable, so Focus Electric owners easily can take it with them when they move, Ford said.

[Kennah]

1. I read here on DU ...

... that the current Leaf charger is 3.3 kWh while the Focus EV charger is 6.6 kWh--thus the Focus can charge twice as fast at 240 V.

However, I also read on DU that a 6.6 kWh charger might be in a second model year Leaf.

[dmallind]

2. Good moves. If they can make it available before the Leaf AND the Volt

clear their pre-order backlog they will sell very well. Of course it's far more likely it will be another slow rollout with long waits for early buyers just like the others.

The first mainstream maker to get EV capacity sorted out will make billions, and quitee rightly as it will cost them billions too.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Let's hope several get to market at about the same time.

That will force a price competition, which will mean wider and faster adoption.

I agree that they all need to make back their R&D plus a little profit.

[ejpoeta]

3. oh to dream!

the idea of the ability to take it on the go and charge along the way is enticing. I hope that there will be something I can get when I am looking again in a few years. I am cautiously optimistic that we can have a viable electric vehicle that is available to someone like myself in the next few years

[jmowreader]

7. There's a big problem with "on the go" recharging

It runs on 220, and there aren't all that many outdoor 220v outlets available. It is very hard to get a 220v extension cord in a store, unless you shop at Grainger.

If Ford builds a 110v travel charger for the car, they'll do well.

[defendandprotect]

4. When the switch was made to gasoline, our government subsidized it ....

Evidently US government made sure there was a gas station on every corner --

now, we need government to busy ensuring that the electric car is here to stay --

In fact, we need to be moving to solar batteries as the German's have done --

[Dawgs]

5. I should be in the market for a new car at the end of next year.

This one would fit my needs perfectly.

American-made, electric, and convenient for a tri-athlete.