The Ford Focus Electric will be sold in limited markets starting in late 2012.
It hasn’t had the fanfare of Chevrolet’s vaunted Volt launch or Nissan’s own electric vehicle, but Ford is quietly getting ready to introduce its own electric car, an electric version of the new Focus compact.
Ford announced the pilot markets for its first zero-emissions vehicle. The first markets selected for Ford Focus Electric: Atlanta, Austin and Houston, Texas; Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Orlando, Fla., Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va., Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
The Focus Electric will have a range of about 100 miles, the same Nissan claims for its Leaf electric.
“As the country continues to build up its electric vehicle infrastructure and demand for the Focus Electric grows, Ford will continue to evaluate additional markets and consider making this vehicle available in more cities across the country,” said Mark Fields, Ford president for the Americas.
The Focus Electric initial markets were chosen based on several different criteria including existing hybrid purchase trends, utility company collaboration and local government commitment to electrification. As part of the collaboration with dealers, utilities and local governments, Ford will help develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support customers’ needs.
The Focus Electric, available in late 2011, will be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. Production will occur on the same line as the gasoline version of the Focus. Using an existing vehicle platform and assembly line will give Ford the ability to vary production based on demand for the Focus Electric.
Ford also plans to begin selling the Transit Connect Electric, a small delivery van aimed at commercial fleets, in 2011.