The New 2012 Ford Focus Electric
Ford is upping the green ante with its 2012 Ford Focus Electric, saying on Wednesday that it will sell an optional home solar energy system to offset about 1,000 miles of driving a month.
The system will also be compatible with the Ford C-Max Energy plug-in hybrid electric vehicle due out in 2012.
Ford explained that the 2.5-kilowatt home rooftop system is made up of solar panels that produce an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Ford said financing options are available through Sun Power.
Although sales of electric cars are infinitesimal compared to regular vehicles, the next few years should change things a little as more automakers begin rolling out new fully electric models. One of the more hotly anticipated choices coming is the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric.
The first all-electric mass-production car from Ford, the 2012 Focus Electric has created some buzz with a few notable claims. Supplying power to the Focus Electric's 92-kilowatt electric drive motor will be a 23-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Ford promises an effective range of about 100 miles between charging.
The Ford Focus Electric is Ford’s reply to the electric mobility salvos fired off by Chevrolet and Nissan over the past couple years.
Charging with the power cord reportedly extends charging time to about 20 hours. Ford will also offer “value charging” (in partnership with Microsoft), allowing Ford Focus Electric owners to charge their cars at the cheapest available utility rates, a new version of My Ford Touch specific to electric vehicle customers (with battery charge state, distance to charge point and relevant range equivalents), a My View feature that includes information on the load of accessories on the power train and corresponding impact on range, and is introducing a My Ford Mobile smart phone app (and website) to monitor vehicle functions and charge settings.
Ford Focus Electric models for the North American market will be built alongside traditional models at the Wayne, Michigan facility. Standard Focus fare such as six airbags, traction control, 60/40 split rear seatback, bio-foam seat materials and recycled fabrics are apart of the electric package.
