Tag: Focus

Another huge manufacturer to go “green” is no surprise – FORD. The all-new, gasoline-free Ford Focus Electric is the first Ford model which is all-electric passenger car with zero-CO₂-emissions.  This version of Ford’s popular small car has the ability to achieve the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon fuel efficiency rating with seating for five persons. In addition the vehicle is also a pioneer in the class of all-electric cars which is going to feature a faster charging technology, allowing it to fully recharge in three to four hours. In comparison the Nissan Leaf charges for a double time! Hence, this technology can help double the car’s range during a busy day of driving and recharging numerous times. Another advantage of the above mentioned improvement is that it can help clients save money! A benefit to be seriously considered, isn’t it?

For the 2012 Ford Focus Electric orders have already being taken. They have started in November through Certified Electric Vehicle Dealers in California and New York/New Jersey markets. But don’t worry if you want to purchase it, because in the forthcoming 2012 the availability of the vehicle will expand to another 15 markets.

Ford had put 20 years of research of the innovations in electrified cars, some of which can be seen in the presented one. The aim of the manufacturers however, is to bring the customers fuel-efficient vehicles without sacrificing performance, capability or dynamic driving experience. Moreover Ford Focus Electric is expected to be competitive with other comparable all-electric vehicles.

First to be highlighted here is Focus Electric’s advanced lithium-ion (li-ion) battery system with an advanced active liquid cooling and heating system to precondition and regulate the temperature in its larger, more complex battery system. To be more precise the active liquid system heats or chills a coolant before pumping it through the battery cooling system. What this loop does is to regulate the temperature throughout the system against the external conditions. For instance on hot days, chilled liquid absorbs heat from the batteries, dispersing it through a radiator before pumping it through the chiller again. On the other hand, on cold days, heated liquid warms the batteries, gradually bringing the system’s temperature number, which allows it to efficiently accept charge energy and provide enough discharge power for the car’s performance. Another innovation that is to be mentioned is the endurance and the long life of the batteries. Interesting is that exactly around this feature Ford has made numerous tests and developments since 1980s. Up to nowadays, among the nearly 43 million battery cells Ford has tested or seen put to work in customer vehicles, only five issues have been documented.

To keep up with the trend, which is to go green and be more fuel efficient, Ford has developed Focus Electric. Moreover it has a unique option “set it and forget it”, which concerns the value charging and is powered by Microsoft. What it does is to notify owners to charge their cars when the utility rates are lower. The goal here is to help customers avoid unnecessary expenses by providing an improved charging solution. The highlight here is that Ford Focus Electric is the first all-electric vehicle which offers a faster charging technology, allowing a full recharge in three to four hours with the 240-volt charge station! Next innovation that has been included in the vehicle is a result of the collaboration between Ford and SunPower Corp. They offer customers a rooftop solar system that can provide enough clean, renewable energy to offset the electricity used to charge the car. No doubt that this brand new technology is going to be very appealing to all concerned about the environment! Furthermore the car’s charge port, which is located on the left front fender, activates a light ring that illuminates the port twice when plugged in. Then the light ring illuminates in quadrants as the car charges, where each quadrant represents 25 percent of the maximum battery charge. You can plug off the car when the entire ring is solidly lit, then the car is fully charged and ready to be driven.

Another benefit comes from Focus Electric’s SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® driver connect technology, which was specifically developed for electric car owners and shows important information. Next, the system’s MyView feature allows the accessibility of more vehicle data. Drivers can also enter destinations, including their next charge point, into the car’s MyFord Touch map-based navigation system. In this way the car will instruct drivers on the perfect way to access the desired range, or will give an advice if travel plans need to be changed. Furthermore the on-board navigation system provides an EcoRoute option based on characteristics of efficient electric vehicle driving. Going further into the innovations, we have to mention the Focus Electric’s next-generation SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide fuel economy coaching system. It features a cluster display that uses blue butterflies to represent the surplus range beyond the driver’s charge point destination. For example, the more butterflies there are, the more surplus you have to get to your final destination. An easy and fun way to be reminded, isn’t it? And at the end of each trip, a display screen provides the distance driven, miles gained through regenerative braking, energy consumed and a comparative gasoline savings.

As every up-to-date car, Ford Focus Electric has a remote control with which the owners will have constant contact with the car anywhere they have a mobile phone signal. This is going to be possible through the use Ford-developed MyFord^® Mobile application, which enables access via a smartphone or Web-based interface. For example, with this feature you can receive instant vehicle status information or perform key functions remotely, monitor the car’s state of charge and current range or get alerts when the car requires charging or has finished charging. You can even locate charge stations and plan routes to find them! Furthermore the feature also allows the owner to program the car to use electricity from the grid to heat or cool the cabin while plugged in. As an instance, during hot days, the car can be programmed the evening before to be fully charged and fully cooled to a particular temperature by a specific time the next morning. Using the MapQuest^®, MyFord Mobile can access charge station information and other points of interest to Focus Electric.

And if you wonder about the driving experience here are some details you need to know. First of all, the all-electric powertrain and single-speed transmission provide immediate responsiveness and smooth acceleration. The maximum speed you can achieve is 84 mph (136 kmh). Furthermore the steering, handling and braking feel is shared with the agile, sporty, fuel-powered five-door hatchback Focus model upon which it’s based. Having all this in mind and along with it, the vehicle’s absence of gasoline or diesel engine and its outstanding aerodynamics result to a quiet, comfortable driving experience. Ford of course have thought about the safety, and has featured in the vehicle six airbags, electronic traction control and MyKey^® for North America. Moreover the vehicle is a pioneer in the100 percent sustainable clean technologies, used in interior materials. They include seat fabrics with REPREVE^®–branded fiber made from recycled plastic bottles in the seat fabric. Another feature that comes as a standard are the 15-spoke 17-inch aluminum wheels, a 60/40 split rear bench seat, push-button start, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony^® Audio with nine speakers, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and HD Radio^™. There is a free, three-year subscription to SYNC Services as well. They will provide every driver with the access to information about traffic, news, sports, weather, horoscopes, stock quotes and movie listings, along with business searches and turn-by-turn directions.

Source: FORD