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2012 Focus Electric test Drive: Behind the wheel of Ford's $39,200 electric car

3.6K views 24 replies 9 participants last post by  Phillip  
#1 ·
Link: http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/17/2953479/2012-ford-focus-electric-driving-impressions

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The Verge said:
Despite consumer uptake that hasn't quite lived up to the hype, the market for electric vehicles continues to expand, with Ford the latest entrant with the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. A zero-emissions electric vehicle with a 76-mile range and a top speed of 84 miles per hour, the car is clearly intended to be a competitor to the Nissan Leaf, with Ford noting that it just manages to best the latter car is several key specs. I was able to spend some time with the new Focus to get a sense of what driving it is like — and who it may really be aimed at.

Compared to its competition, the Focus Electric is a handsome vehicle. A stylistic riff on the Focus line in general, it features a decorative grill — equal parts Mini Cooper and Aston Martin — and in a nice touch, the charging port is circled by a pulsating ring of light. That said, it's still a five-door, hatchback-style vehicle, but it's a far cry from the sloping nose of the Leaf. Inside the Focus Electric keeps in line with these utilitarian roots, again ditching the futuristic feel of some of its competitors for a more contemporary interior. The seats themselves use fabrics from Repreve, a company that specializes in utilizing recycled plastic bottles to help create its materials. It's a nod to the overall message and lifestyle brand Ford is trying to put forward with the vehicle. While the seats were comfortable, the interior isn't particularly spacious; an adult of regular height will find themselves with precious little legroom when sitting in the back.
Click on the link above for the full article complete with pictures!
 
#4 ·
almost 40k for that? ugh i"ll keep burning fuel till the price comes down and the range per charge goes up. if it can hit 400-350 miles per charge then it would easily compete with gasoline powered engines. at least that is the range of my svtf.
 
#5 ·
almost 40k for that? ugh i"ll keep burning fuel till the price comes down and the range per charge goes up. if it can hit 400-350 miles per charge then it would easily compete with gasoline powered engines. at least that is the range of my svtf.
I personally don't think it'll need to go quite that far for the market to pick up and become more mainstream. I would say if they can pull off 200 miles on a charge, add WAY more infrastructer to support it, and the price for these cars drop to a reasonable level (like, say $30,000 for this Focus), they will really start to catch on.
 
#6 · (Edited)
If they could make an electric that doesn't look like a cartoon, gets 150 miles to a charge and costs $20K then I'll buy one. I sure won't be getting rid of my TDi though.

IMO electrics really can't be your only vehicle. I'd gladly own one to make my 22 mile round trip commute every day but it would never be my only car.

The range of all of the electrics is dismal though. The GM EV1 got up to 160 miles per charge and that was using NiMH tech from 12 years ago.
 
#7 ·
Wasn't the Ev1 rediculously light? Probably what gave it such stellar range (relatively speaking).

I remember seeing one regularly on my commute over Hwy 17, or "The Hill", from Scotts Valley to San Jose when we lived out that way.
 
#14 ·
HA! Yes..... I remember being so proud when I upgraded to a Reedy Mr. A motor. I think it was a four turn. I also upgraded to a Novak ESC. I think it was a 610 with reverse. Not only did the car HAUL ASS, it melted the insulation off the battery leads because it sucked current like a mother. I "vented" that old 6 six cell NiCad pack on it's third run in that config. I vaguely recall thinking, "I guess it's time for some lower gearing." I think I had like a 30 tooth motor gear on there cause I wanted it to haul. I had to step down to like a 12 tooth to keep it from nuking itself. :lol:

I also remember getting my first set of replacement brushes. The ends were cut off square and they had somehow slipped through quality control. I didn't know that though as like an 11 year old kid. I just thought....this sucks...they should have pre-ground them. So I diligently "borrowed" my dads DC power supply, hooked it up to the motor with new brushes and dropped it in a glass of mineral oil and ran it for like 3 days to get the brushes to wear down enough that they made full contact with the armature. I also melted the power supply. Duty cycle? Duty Cycle? I'm 11 years old....WTF do you mean duty cycle old man? Hehe
 
#16 ·
"Who killed the Electric Car" is a video worth checking out. You can buy a 1000 amp controller for 3 grand. Add a decent DC motor for another 2-3k. 15k worth of batteries an old zx3 and you get better performance than the EV Focus.
 
#17 ·
You just listed $25-30k worth of materials, not factoring in labor or fabrication requirements. For an old, used car with no warranty that won't work right. .... I'd pay the 40k. haha
 
#25 ·
The "holy grail" of a Ford Focus has been an AWD turbocharged car since it hit ours shores. If you're not aware of that simple wish, you've not done much reading on this site.

As for questions on EV's, ask them in the other thread. :)

You can also go to this website and educate yourself a further on batteries, controllers, motors, etc.

http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/?