Ford unveils its first all-electric car
LAS VEGAS — Ford unveiled its first fully electric car on Friday, a Focus which is expected to get up to 100 miles (60 kilometers) on a single charge and will…
LAS VEGAS — Ford unveiled its first fully electric car on Friday, a Focus which is expected to get up to 100 miles (60 kilometers) on a single charge and will be available in the United States late this year.Alan Mulally, chairman and chief executive of the number two US automaker, introduced the four-door passenger car at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.Mulally declined to detail the vehicle's total range or how much it would cost, but a Ford spokesman said the Focus Electric's mileage on a single charge would be "competitive" with similar electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf.The Nissan Leaf has a range of around 100 miles before needing to be hooked up to a power outlet.Ford said the battery in the Focus can be fully charged at a home 240-volt charging station in three to four hours, about half the time of the Leaf.Mulally acknowledged the need for regular charges would be seen as a drawback by some customers.But, he said, "we know that many customers are looking forward to driving a zero emissions electric vehicle and never having to visit a gas station again."We believe most of these customers are prepared to embrace the reality that a full battery does not last as long as a full tank of gas."Nissan delivered its first all-electric Leaf to a San Francisco customer last month and General Motors has also recently begun sales of its plug-in electric hybrid the Chevy Volt.Ford said the Focus Electric offers a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than the Volt.Toyota is also planning on bringing a plug-in electric hybrid to market soon and will introduce a wagon version of the popular Prius hybrid on Monday at the Detroit auto show. Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
last modification 2011-01-08 00:45:54
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