Competition in the growing battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market took a big step up last week, as Ford Motor Co. announced that it has launched production of the Focus Electric.
The Focus Electric, which carries no gasoline onboard, will go head-to-head with the Nissan Leaf and will be the only other high-volume BEV to be marketed by a major automaker. In many respects, it will be similar to the Leaf, offering a miles-per-gallon-equivalent figure of around 100 and an all-electric range between 70 and 100 miles. The new vehicle's major differences are that it will charge in about half the time, will cost slightly more than the Leaf, and will be built in a flexible setting that can handle large or small production volumes .
Click the image of the Ford Focus Electric below to view a slideshow of the five-passenger vehicle:
Ford's five-passenger Focus Electric will compete head-to-head with Nissan's Leaf.
Source: Ford Motor Co.
"If the Ford Focus EV starts selling like gangbusters, they'll be ready," says Dave Hurst, senior analyst for Pike Research, in an interview with Design News. "Ford will be building the gasoline Focus, the Hybrid C-Max, and the Focus EV in the same plant, and they can shift from one vehicle to another depending on demand."
Up to now, no BEV has turned in big sales numbers. The Leaf is expected to hit about 10,000 in 2011, accounting for nearly all the industry's BEV sales. Pike Research predicts overall BEV sales will hit about 30,000 in 2012, out of an expected total of 13 million vehicles sold in the US. Other battery-electric vehicles will vie for their share of these 30,000 sales, however. Honda, Toyota Scion, Tesla, and BYD Motors will roll out pure electric cars in 2012, and GM is expected to follow with its Spark EV in 2013.
The Chevy Volt, which is referred to as an electric car, doesn't fall in the BEV category, because it carries gasoline onboard.
Ford says the Focus Electric is the first pure electric car to offer fast-recharging technology. At 240V, it can be recharged in three to four hours -- about half the time the Nissan Leaf takes. The difference is Ford's use of a 6.7kW onboard charger, as opposed to the Leaf's 3.3kW charger. At 120V, the Focus battery will "fill up" in approximately 18 to 20 hours.
In a press release, Ford declared that its fast-charging capability will translate to greater range. "Faster charging with 240 volts also can extend range as drivers can more quickly recharge between stops," the release states.
Ford was not forthcoming with its miles-per-gallon-equivalent figures or single-charge range numbers, however. It said only that its MPGe will be more than 100mpg, and its range on a single charge will be "competitive with other comparable all-electric vehicles." The Nissan Leaf clocks in at 99 MPGe and the Volt offers 93 MPGe.
Ford's new EV will employ a 23kWh lithium-ion battery supplied by LG Chem Ltd. and manufactured by Compact Power Inc. In terms of capacity, the battery is very similar to the Leaf's 24kWh unit and almost 50 percent larger than Chevy Volt's 16kWh product.
Ford has priced the Focus Electric at $39,995, making it identical to the Chevy Volt, and more costly than the Leaf, which has an MSRP of $35,200.
Hurst says that most electric vehicle makers are as yet treading lightly and not expecting huge sales numbers for the Leaf, Focus, or any other BEV in 2012. "These companies aren't looking for big numbers right out of the gate," he says. "We're still seeing questions because there are a lot of new technologies here, and everyone wants to be sure they're ready."
To keep up with our Chevy Volt coverage, go to Drive for Innovation and follow the cross-country journey of EE Life editorial director Brian Fuller. On his trip, sponsored by Avnet Express, Fuller is driving a Volt across America to interview engineers.
Nice addition to the portfolio of pure electrics that exist on the market today. Interesting that Ford is emphasizing its scalable manufacturing infrastructure upon delivery of the vehicle to production. I'm curious whether manufacturing capabilities are a key concern as more of these electric vehicles roll out. Is it that people are worried that the OEMs have built up too much dedicated production capabilities, i.e., potential inventory for pure electrics or that there's concern enough vehicles can't be built if demand escalates?
This is a very gutsy and welcome move by Ford. They have done a very nice job in both weathering the economic 'downturn' and a very nice job with their new product offerings. Their plans for the new Focus Electric are really nicely structured as a production item.
I am a bit offput by the price but, hey, it is what it is. And I think that the flexibility that Ford appears to have built into their production planning is superb.
I was also a bit taken aback by the price tag on this car. But, like everything, just wait long enough and the price will come down. Of course, by then, we will want the newer, potentially better thing that is replacing it.
I was particularly surprised to see Leno on this collection of photos. The second-to-last slide with the cutaway was a good shot of the differences between internal combustion and electric cars. From you earlier articles pointing to difficulties with EV batteries -- and from the price tags -- it seems we still have a ways to go before EVs are fully arrived.
At a trade show this summer, Ford had vaious components of the Focus EV on display. I was puzzled by the fact that the motor only turns one direction, and relies on a mechanical transmission to reverse. What about four-quadrant motor controllers? Wouldn't that be more efficient then gears?
I don't believe that they will sell many at that price. One thing I wish car companies would do is have the option for a smaller capacity battery. Call it the "city range option". This would lower the price and improve the performance (like acceleration) of the vehicle. I guess I am unusual in that I do not have "range anxiety". My commute is about 6.5 miles each way and even if I run an errand on the way home, and, or go out for lunch I could easily make do with a 20 mile total range. So I really only need half the battery capacity that they are putting in cars like the Leaf and Focus. If I needed to make a longer drive for some reason I could trade vehicles with one of the other members of my household (we are a four car family and we all have relatively short daily commutes) for the day.
I do not understand in what way this FORD FOCUS is better than NISSAN LEAF, GM CHEVY VOLT AND MITSBUSHI ELECTRIC?.
Yes, you are correct. One can not have two cars, one for short trips and one for long trips. I own Chevy Volt # 3337. It is technologically advanced in many respects. With extended range and price GM could not sell much.
I like the car, but need to improve in many folds if GM wants to be the master and leader in PHV ( PLUG IN HYBRID VEHICLES).
As a present owner, EV AND PHV car makers, should improve the followoing:
1) EV Range minimum of 100 + miles,
2) Charging should not be more than 30 minutes. DC charges should be standard. And all GAS SATION MUST HAVE CHARGING STATIONS.
3) For Extended range like GM CHEVY VOLT, the MPG should be minimum 50+ per gallon.
4) It should be five seater.
5) Over and above all the price should be competetive and should not be prohibitive for general population.
If the car maker wants to really replace the PRESENT IC engines, they should consider the above otherwise they are wasing the capital or re-inventing the wheel.
One mor thing in COLD WEATHER THE RANGE GOES DOWN DRASTICALLY IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE IN COMFORT.
Both of them Beth. Whatever they need, EV's when oil prices get high and gas/hybrid with lower oil prices.
The beauty of Ford's approach is it's low cost to impliment. Sadly they didn't pass that savings on to the customers from the price. They also had EV drive companies do most of the EV design parts, saving money. If they didn't change it, they also don't have REE in the motor either, made by Azure/Solectria.
One thing that isn't good is the extra weight they have to push because it's not built as an EV. Though it was designed from the start for an EV option with about 400lbs lighter and other features.
As for it being superior to the Leaf, not true. The Leaf was designed as an EV. All they need for faster charging is a bigger charger. And they Leaf once A Better Place gets going, will be able to swap battery packs in less time than filling up with gas. SF, Tokyo, Denmark and Isreal are getting then now. It's also a 5 passenger, not 4 like the Focus. And the $6k price difference Nissan is far better.
Any1 your needs can be served by any Ev conversions out there or convert a VW Bug of which there are many kits. For between $1-6k depending on how much you do, can be a very cost effective EV.
Interestingly if GM would just build it's Ultra-Lite showcar EV in medium tech composites could be built for under $15k using lead batteries and DC EV tech. The rear power pod could be swapped between EV and ICE as needed was a nice touch.
Please keep in mind that the MPGe formula, now being used officially, is a pretense that heat engines that make the electricity are able to convert heat to electricity at a power plant and transmit to a plug without loss of energy.
One of the images that stood out to me in this slide show was the guy plugging his EV into an electric outlet somewhere in downtown SmallVille. We can talk all we want about EVs, but what about the charging infrastructure to make them a reality? I live in small town USA and I can tell you there are no charging stations. I'm assuming any one in this neck of the woods driving an EV has installed the proper power facilities at home. How much progress are we making on this important aspect of EV adoption?
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