Ford Focus EV

[stopcrazypp]

There are lots of people who won't buy the Leaf just because of the way it looks and at least they made 240v charging the default.

AFAIK, the onboard charger on the Focus will be 240V (like all EV chargers). It is unheard of to have that as an option and have one that supports only 110V.

Are you talking about the EVSE? Nissan doesn't include that as standard equipment in the Leaf and I don't think they changed this in the 2012 model either.

 

[Mycroft]

I know the onboard charger on the Focus is 240v, that's what I was saying. I was assuming that the standard charger on the Leaf was 120v and that an optional upgrade was required to enable charging at 240v. This, I was guessing, was the reason Ford could claim to be able to charge the Focus in half the time needed for the Leaf.

 

[dpeilow]

The Ford supports 6.6kW charging - the Leaf is 3.3kW until the 2013 model.

 

[Mycroft]

The Ford supports 6.6kW charging - the Leaf is 3.3kW until the 2013 model.

Ah, that 'splains it. So the Focus has two things going for it. Wonder what the MSRP will be.

 

[vfx]

... Love those wiggle words, "up to". So basically it's the same as the Leaf.

Can't careful Leaf drivers get "up to" 120 MPC?

 

[Mycroft]

Possibly, but Nissan says 100 miles, so possibly the Focus can get up to 120 as well. Like the price, we just don't know eh?

 

[EVNow]

Possibly, but Nissan says 100 miles, so possibly the Focus can get up to 120 as well. Like the price, we just don't know eh?

Focus has 23 kwh battery compared to 24kwh of Leaf (whatever that means). Focus also won't be as efficient as Leaf (mpge between Volt's and Leaf's).

Leaf's 100 miles is LA-04 cycle. Ford hasn't said anything about std. cycles when saying upto 100 miles.

I think Focus's EPA range will come around 70 compared to 73 for Leaf.

 

[TEG]

Can't careful Leaf drivers get "up to" 120 MPC?

Well yes, but getting only 75 is also possible with mostly freeway driving at 75mph+.

Rough approximation:

Average Speed : Range
35: 120
55: 100
75: 80

 

[doug]

Q&A post on the Care2.com site.
Jul 25, 2011 Introducing the Electric Ford Focus by Jake Richardson

We are building the Focus Electric to look like and perform like a gas powered vehicle. Just because someone wants to drive an electric vehicle doesn’t mean they should sacrifice anything from amenities inside the vehicle to expectations of durability and safety. Our goal is to build an all electric vehicle that delivers the same driving enjoyment as any of our other vehicles

I guess that's one way to spin just converting your existing ICE car. That's fine. But my gripe would be this:

Ford Focus Electric pops a hatch and shows all that battery junk in its trunk -- Engadget

 

[jkirkebo]

I guess that's one way to spin just converting your existing ICE car. That's fine. But my gripe would be this:

Ford Focus Electric pops a hatch and shows all that battery junk in its trunk -- Engadget

Exactly. If I could live with a Roadster-sized trunk I'd simply get a Roadster.

 

[Iz]

Exactly. If I could live with a Roadster-sized trunk I'd simply get a Roadster.

This just goes to show that many auto manufacturers are not committed to building EVs. If they were, their models would be built from the ground up and would have sufficient trunk and/or cargo space.

 

[qwk]

This just goes to show that many auto manufacturers are not committed to building EVs. If they were, their models would be built from the ground up and would have sufficient trunk and/or cargo space.

Exactly. The focus ev looks like it was designed and built by a high school auto class.

 

[ljbad4life]

Exactly. The focus ev looks like it was designed and built by a high school auto class.

Maybe ford is thinking since it only has 100 mile range and no fast charging capabilities, drivers won't be hauling tons of stuff (which isn't true, a trip to ikea would disprove that) or because it's a hatch back they feel that you can just fold down the seats for large cargo.

 

[doug]

How different is this car they're selling from the one Magna converted for them?

 

[qwk]

How different is this car they're selling from the one Magna converted for them?

I don't think anybody knows yet, but it's probably not much different since it will be a low volume car.

 

[TEG]

Facebook : under the hood of a Focus Electric

 

[Mycroft]

Wow, the Model S just looks better and better!

 

[Doug_G]

Facebook : under the hood of a Focus Electric

What IS all that stuff??? It looks like an ICE!

 

[TEG]

What IS all that stuff??? It looks like an ICE!

Maybe that was rhetorical... But stuff like the inverter, A/C controller, DC/DC converter, coolant lines, aux battery, oh and the motor is buried under there somewhere!
Not exactly the most integrated design. Like some are saying, it seems a bit like an aftermarket conversion.

 

[richkae]

The Honda Civic GX has a similariliy shitty trunk, due to the giant CNG tank that eats the space.
http://0.tqn.com/d/alternativefuels/1/0/b/N/-/-/ag_civicgx_trunk.jpg

So there is a precedent of sacrificing utility in alternative fuel cars by the big manufacturers.