Ford Motor Co. says it is launching production of the 2012 Focus Electric at its assembly facility in Wayne, Mich. The five-passenger, all-electric vehicle is expected to achieve a fuel-efficiency rating of 100 MPGe or higher.
Ford says the Focus Electric will be the first EV to offer faster home-based charging through 240 V outlets – a full charge is targeted to be achieved in about three hours. The all-electric powertrain and single-speed transmission provide ‘immediate responsiveness and smooth acceleration when the driver steps on the accelerator, up to a top speed of 84 mph,’ the company adds.
Ford notes that a ‘limited number’ of Focus Electric models will first be available in California and the New York/New Jersey areas. Availability will expand in 2012 to 15 other markets – such as Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix and Detroit – as production ramps up.
