http://www.ford.com/electric/focuselectric/2012/
Looks like you could get a $7500 tax credit which brings the initial base price down to $32,500. A standard 2012 focus has a base price of $18,300.
No mileage figures yet however they claim it is comparable to others in its class. Has a 23kwh "advanced active" liquid cooled Lithiun-Ion battery and lots of assorted gadgetry to help you drive more efficiently.
A 240v supply will charge the battery in 3-4 hours.
So what say you? The focus is a very popular car in Europe and the UK specifically so how well do you think it will do?
If a 23kw charge does 150 miles it would cost me about £5.50 in electric to do the same mileage as about £60 of petrol. In fuel saving for me it would work out to a shade under £1000 a year. 99% of my driving is less than 50 miles a day and I have a drive which means I could charge at home with no problems.
I'm not getting one, I don't have the kind of money to spend unless I knew the TCO was going to be at least nearly as good as another option.
But I like that more cars are having the option.
I still don't know anything about battery life and swapping schemes or anything so those will also be important as will the used price.
Also found the below on another site about the materials and manufacturing used for the electric Focus also trying to be greener.
Looks like you could get a $7500 tax credit which brings the initial base price down to $32,500. A standard 2012 focus has a base price of $18,300.
No mileage figures yet however they claim it is comparable to others in its class. Has a 23kwh "advanced active" liquid cooled Lithiun-Ion battery and lots of assorted gadgetry to help you drive more efficiently.
A 240v supply will charge the battery in 3-4 hours.
So what say you? The focus is a very popular car in Europe and the UK specifically so how well do you think it will do?
If a 23kw charge does 150 miles it would cost me about £5.50 in electric to do the same mileage as about £60 of petrol. In fuel saving for me it would work out to a shade under £1000 a year. 99% of my driving is less than 50 miles a day and I have a drive which means I could charge at home with no problems.
I'm not getting one, I don't have the kind of money to spend unless I knew the TCO was going to be at least nearly as good as another option.
But I like that more cars are having the option.
I still don't know anything about battery life and swapping schemes or anything so those will also be important as will the used price.
Also found the below on another site about the materials and manufacturing used for the electric Focus also trying to be greener.
“An electric vehicle is already considered a green vehicle, but Ford wanted to go a step further by looking at ways to make the materials inside the Focus Electric more eco-friendly as well. Using recycled or renewable materials in lieu of petroleum-based materials allows Ford to minimize the amount of virgin materials used in the Focus Electric.”
So then, you are probably thinking that they are using recycled content to make plastic parts of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. You would be right, pop bottles and milk jugs are just some of the materials recycled and used to make components of underbody shields, wheel arch liners and air cleaner assemblies. The process is part of Ford’s strategy to increase the use of resins. Why resin? The answer is simple; it helps reduce the use of oil-based plastics, which cuts down on oil consumption. This isn’t Ford’s only method; they also use soy-based foams (used in more than 20 Ford vehicles) in the seat cushions. The sound deadening is also sustainable and made from a material called Lignotock. The oddly named material is derived from 85 percent wood fibers. The material is lighter in weight and helps provide weight reduction for better….electric economy.
The car isn’t the only place Ford is looking to increase their sustainable practices. They are also introducing “innovative production processes” at their Wayne, Michigan plant. These processes include the three-wet paint process that applies all three coats of finish in sequence prior to oven curing. The result is a high-quality finish and a “significant reduction” in energy usage. Other interesting innovations include the Fumes-to-Fuel system that takes emissions from the plant’s paint shop and converts them into electricity.
Bottom line—sustainability isn’t just measured by the emissions coming out of the tailpipe, it is the big picture including the entire raw material and manufacturing process. Check out the greener 2012 Ford Focus Electric when they hit dealers late this year.
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