Ford Focus Electric revealed
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Ford president and CEO, Alan Mulally with the
new Focus Electric
Ford Motor Company, Executive Chairman Bill
Ford charges the Ford Focus Electric during the vehicle's reveal in New York City, Friday, 7th
January, 2011. The all new Ford Focus Electric is Ford's first all-electric passenger car and one of
five new electrified vehicles Ford will deliver by 2012.
The sleek and stylish five-door hatchback Ford Focus
Electric leverages Ford's global C-car platform shared by the petrol and diesel powered Focus models
and will offer a miles-per-gallon equivalent better than Chevrolet Volt and competitive with other
battery electric vehicles.
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Ford
10th January, 2011
- All-new Ford Focus Electric is one of five new electrified vehicles Ford will deliver by 2013 in
North America and Europe
- The all-electric Focus is capable of fully recharging in three to four hours at home using the
available wall-mounted 240-volt charge station
- Focus Electric provides a special version of MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology and
introduces MyFord Mobile, a smartphone app and website for monitoring key vehicle
functions
The Ford Motor Company has unveiled its all-new Focus Electric ahead of the Detroit Motor Show.
It is the company’s first-ever all-electric passenger car.
The zero-CO2-emissions, petrol-free version of Ford's popular small car is the 'flagship' of the
company's growing fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles coming to North America
and Europe by 2013.
"Focus Electric is the 'flagship' of our new 'family' of electrified vehicles, showcasing our
commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,"
according to Ford group vice president for Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak.
"Its advanced powertrain will deliver significant energy efficiency advantages and zero CO2
emissions without compromising driving enjoyment. And its suite of smart driver information
technologies will transform the way customers think about energy usage and their transportation
needs."
The Focus Electric will be launched in late 2011 in North America and is designed to offer enough
range to cover the majority of daily driving habits of Americans. A full recharge is expected to take
three to four hours at home with the 240-volt charge station.
Focus Electric introduces new features and technologies – including a unique version of the MyFord
Touch driver connect system especially for electric vehicles, a new value charging feature powered by
Microsoft and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that helps plug-in owners control their vehicles
remotely.
The sleek and stylish five-door hatchback leverages Ford's global C-car platform shared by the
petrol and diesel-powered Focus models, which debuted at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show and were
launched at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010.
Both Focus petrol and electric variants to be sold in North America will be built at Ford's
Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, with production powered in part by one of the largest
solar energy generator systems in the State.
For European markets, a decision on where the Focus Electric will be built is currently being
finalised.
Focus Electric is one of five new electrified vehicles included in Ford's electrification strategy.
Initial deliveries of Transit Connect Electric began in North America at the end of last year and the
vehicle will be launched in Europe later in 2011.
A real car
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Not only is Focus Electric designed to provide outstanding energy efficiency and reliable operation,
it also delivers real driving enjoyment.
The all-electric powertrain and single-speed transmission provide immediate responsiveness and smooth
acceleration when the driver pushes down the accelerator, up to a top speed of 136 km/h.
Much of Focus Electric's steering, handling and braking feel is shared with the agile, sporty,
Focus models upon which it's based, making Focus Electric a dynamic driver's car.
At the same time, the absence of a petrol or diesel engine and outstanding aerodynamics lead to a
remarkably quiet, comfortable in-car experience.
“More than any other electric vehicle on the market, Focus Electric loses none of the dynamics and
quality of driving a traditional car,” the director of Ford’s electrification programmes and
engineering, Sherif Marakby, said.
“It shares many of the same premium components and features as its petrol-powered counterpart,
while delivering distinct efficiencies and a uniquely exciting driving experience.”
Focus Electric offers a host of standard safety and security features including six airbags and
electronic traction control, along with hands-free SYNC® telephone connectivity and MyKey® for North
America. Extensive eco-friendly materials, such as bio-foam seat cushions and recycled fabrics also
are featured in the vehicle.
Other standard features on Ford Focus Electric for North American customers include a unique execution
of MyFord Touch driver connect technology, 15-spoke 17-inch aluminium wheels, a 60/40 split rear seat,
push button start, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony® Audio with nine speakers, Sirius® Satellite Radio with Travel
Link, HD Radio™ and voice-activated Navigation System.
Plug and play
Future owners of the Focus Electric will likely recharge the car's advanced, Ford-engineered
lithium-ion battery pack at home on a daily basis, using the recommended 240-volt wall-mounted charge
station that will be sold separately or the 120-volt convenience cord that comes with the vehicle.
When plugged in, the Focus Electric onboard charger converts AC power from the electric grid to DC
power to charge the liquid-cooled/heated battery pack.
"We're very excited about the potential of Focus Electric in the marketplace," Ford's director
of Global Electrification, Nancy Gioia, said.
"With so many of us accustomed to recharging mobile electronics on a daily basis, we're confident
our customers will take to the vehicle recharging process just as easily, because that's exactly what
it is – easy."
"Not only have we made the practice of plugging in simple and straightforward, we're working with
leading technology companies and the utility industry to make the EV experience empowering and
engaging."
An empowering experience
Focus Electric owners will be provided with a suite of driver information systems – on-board and
off-board.
These are designed to help them manage the recharge process, manage the most eco-friendly route
on-board, monitor battery state of charge and maximise energy efficiency to optimise their driving
range.
This carefully engineered set of tools is designed to give Focus Electric the edge over competitive
products, providing new electric vehicle owners the information they need to enjoy all the freedom
petrol-free driving has to offer.
Among these tools is a unique execution of MyFord Touch driver connect technology. Thoughtfully
developed for electric vehicle owners, it offers innovative presentation of vehicle information, such
as battery state of charge, distance to charge point, the corresponding range budget and expected
range margin. The system's MyView feature allows drivers to access even more vehicle data including the
electrical demands of vehicle accessories such as air conditioning, which can impact driving range.
Just as the growing leafy vine of first-generation SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide represents fuel
efficiency in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the cluster display in Focus Electric uses blue butterflies to
represent the surplus range beyond one's charge point destination – the more butterflies there are,
the greater the range.
Ford designers were inspired by the phenomenon known as "the butterfly effect," in which a small
change, like choosing to drive an electric vehicle, can have an enormous impact.
To reinforce the message, at the end of each trip a display screen provides distance driven,
kilometres gained through regenerative braking, energy consumed and a comparative petrol savings
achieved by driving electric.
The cluster is also integrated with the MyFord Touch map-based Navigation System using the vehicle’s
centre stack 8-inch touch screen.
After adding their driving destinations, including their next charge point, into the vehicle's
navigation system, the vehicle will coach drivers on how to achieve the desired range – or if travel
plans need to be adjusted. The on-board navigation system provides an EcoRoute option based on
characteristics of efficient EV driving.
Remote control
Off-board, Focus Electric owners in North America will be able to maintain constant contact with
the car anywhere they have mobile phone access using the Ford-developed MyFord Mobile app.
MyFord Mobile is an app that enables access via a smartphone or web-based interface to:
- Receive instant vehicle status information
- Perform key functions remotely
- Monitor the car's state of charge and current range
- Get alerts when it requires charging or has finished charging
- Remotely programme charge settings and download vehicle data for analysis
The feature also allows the owner to programme the vehicle to use electricity from the grid to
heat or cool the battery and cabin while plugged in – called preconditioning.
For example, during hot summer months, owners can pre-programme the car the evening before to be
fully charged – and fully cooled to a particular temperature – by a certain time the following
morning.
Users can also locate the vehicle with GPS, remotely start the vehicle and remotely lock and
unlock the car doors.
Working with MapQuest®, MyFord Mobile can communicate charge station and other points of interest
to Focus Electric using SYNC's Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI). Turn-by-turn guidance is
provided by the in-car map-based navigation system.
Drivers can also get up-to-date charging station information in their vehicle directly through
SYNC TDI simply by connecting to SYNC Services.
Value charging
The Focus Electric offers a unique value charging feature, powered by Microsoft, to help owners
in the US charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates, lowering the cost of ownership.
"Value charging allows our customers to reduce their electricity costs by taking advantage
of off-peak or other reduced rates from their utility without a complicated set-up process,"
manager, Ford Connected Services Organisation, Ed Pleet, said.
"This is a 'set-it-and-forget-it' approach for the customer to reduce energy cost."
The tool is designed to help customers avoid unnecessary expense by providing an optimised
charge. In the future, these smart charging habits will help utility companies understand and better
manage the demands placed upon the electric grid because of electrified vehicles.
Getting charged up
Focus Electric owners are likely to handle one of the vehicle's charge cord connectors two or
more times each day.
That's why Ford worked with supplier Yazaki to provide an industry-standard five-point plug that
is ergonomically comfortable to hold as well as durably and distinctively designed.
The plug handle uses a matt-finished black rubber that allows for a comfortable, non-slip grip.
The plug head is shielded with a protective glossy white plastic.
When the cord set connector is plugged into the vehicle's charge port, which is conveniently
located between the driver's door and front wheel well, it activates a light ring that loops around
the port twice in acknowledgement of connectivity.
The light ring then illuminates in quadrants as the vehicle charges. Flashing quadrants represent
charge in progress and solid-lit quadrants show stages of charge completion. In the unlikely event
of a fault, the entire ring will flash. When the entire ring is solidly lit, the vehicle is fully
charged.
Batteries included
Ford Focus Electric will be powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery system engineered by Ford
in cooperation with supplier LG Chem.
The battery system utilises heated and cooled liquid to help maximise battery life and fuel-free
driving range.
Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of pure electric
vehicles. Focus Electric uses an advanced active liquid cooling and heating system to pre-condition
and regulate the temperature in its larger, more complex lithium-ion battery system.
The active liquid system heats or chills a coolant before pumping it through the battery cooling
system.
This loop regulates temperature throughout the system against external conditions.
On hot days, chilled liquid absorbs heat from the batteries, dispersing it through a radiator
before pumping it through the chiller again. On cold days, heated liquid warms the batteries,
gradually bringing the system's temperature to a level that allows it to efficiently accept charge
energy and provide enough discharge power for expected vehicle performance.
"Focus Electric is the culmination of years of research and development," Kuzak said.
"More importantly, it’s the start of an exciting new era for Ford and our customers."
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