28 June 2012

First on-road spin in a Focus EV



I drove Ford's electric Focus recently, writes Brian Byrne, and found it an interesting take on this so far very niche segment of alternative powertrains.

With immediate torque and 145hp on tap, the prototype was quite lively around the streets of Aachen in Germany, where Ford has its European research & development HQ.

At around 1,550kgs, the electric Focus is about half a tonne heavier than the standard car, so it certainly felt less dynamic than the standard car.

The production versions will be built in Germany, and the power source will be lithium-ion, with a target range of 160kms and a top speed of 135km/h.

The EV will be available in some European markets before the end of this year.