Ford Focus Electric: Ultimate Guide To What You Need To Know

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Ford Focus Electric: Ultimate Guide To What You Need To Know

Antony Ingram

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2012 Ford Focus Electric, New York City, April 2012

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The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is already available in select parts of the U.S. -- and to answer all your questions about Ford’s first mass-produced all-electric car here’s our ultimate guide to the Ford Focus Electric.

For our guide, we’ve hand-picked the best information about the five-seat hatchback, detailing everything from its debut through to its pedestrian warning system, its in-car telematics and even the occasional celebrity appearance.

To keep up with the latest information, don’t forget to bookmark this page and visit it regularly. Alternatively, you can always follow the latest news on the 2012 Ford Focus Electric on our Facebook page for GreenCarReports, or follow us on Twitter @greencarreports.

The basics

So what should you know about Ford's rival to the Nissan Leaf?

Firstly, unlike its Japanese rival, the Focus Electric shares its basic architecture with regular gasoline--and in Europe, diesel--vehicles. The exterior styling and interior layout is much as you'd find in any other Focus, so little will come as a surprise to the average Focus owner.

Under the hood, you'll find a 107-kilowatt (143-horsepower) electric motor. A 23 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack provides the power, and its official EPA range is 76 miles.

While the Leaf has no dedicated thermal management system for the battery, the Focus does--and the ability for it to cool or warm the battery depending on conditions should ensure range is preserved a little better in temperature extremes.

Driving the Ford Focus Electric

We described the Focus Electric as "solid, smooth and sporty" after driving it back in April.

The Focus is already a fun car so the Electric is off to a good start, and there's enough power and torque from the electric motor to tackle city and highway driving. If you want to know more, check out our first drive review, below.

2012 Ford Focus Electric, New York City, April 2012

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Buying and owning the Ford Focus Electric

Tempted by an electric Focus, after reading the basics and our first drive review? You may also be interested in some of the following links then, which provide a little more information on what the Focus will be like to buy and own.

Particularly interesting is Ford's run-down of all the parts you won't be changing, compared to a regular car. If you don't like maintenance, this is probably the vehicle for you!

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Comments (7)

Xiaolong Li Posted: 7/20/2012 8:29pm PDT

Is there a 0-30 and 0-60mph, 1/4 miles time for the Focus EV?

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Douglas Kerr Posted: 3/29/2013 4:18pm PDT

Yes, at Car and Driver: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-ford-focus-electric-instrumented-test-review

The 0-60 is 10.3, two-tenths slower than the Leaf. Quarter mile is 17.9 reaching 80 mph.

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Toufigh Gordi Posted: 12/31/2012 7:56pm PST

Focus electric comes nowhere close to Leaf in terms of fun driving and acceleration. We own a Leaf and lease a Focus and there is a big difference. I am not dismissing the Ford totally but in my opinion it is no match for Leaf when it comes to pass other cars once the light turns green or turning radius. Also quality-wise, we haven't had a single problem with Nissan since year and a half while have had several instances of the panel on the Focus never turning on or the clock being change to some strange time.

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Douglas Kerr Posted: 3/29/2013 4:15pm PDT

Odd. The great majority of auto reviews come to an opposite conclusion. For instance, Consumer Reports has this to say: "This Focus is one of the nicest electric cars we've driven. It has all the underlying Focus qualities: taut handling, good ride, and nicely finished interior." Or, as Car & Driver states: "The Leaf is a lot less involving and gratifying to drive; it’s more simulation than stimulation." Additionally, the performance specs show that the Focus is just slightly slower than the Leaf. (Two-tenths of a second, zero-60.)

In a straight comparison, I would give the edge to the Focus on the interior (it is significantly more refined) and the battery system. (I have a real issue with an air-cooled battery.)

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Thomas Hensley Posted: 3/12/2013 9:37pm PDT

only 76 mile range??? -sigh- come on car makers would you put a 3 gallon tank on the ICE counterpart get the range up to 200 miles and you will see people buy it.

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Douglas Kerr Posted: 3/29/2013 4:28pm PDT

Sigh.... The 80 mile range is standard for electric vehicles unless you want to move up to the cost of a Tesla. The 3 gallon tank isn't the problem, it's finding a convenient place to fill up that 3 gallon tank, other than your home.

An 80 mile range is an alternative, however, if you have two cars and use one for short trips. Then, the energy equivalent of $1.50 a gallon for a fill-up will help convince you that maybe an electric car isn't too bad after all.

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Dave Jahn Posted: 4/29/2013 5:16am PDT

Just leased a Ford Focus Electric a couple of weeks ago and so far I am amazed and delighted. The car is refined, fun, and perfect for the sort of driving I do (under 50 miles per day typically). We are in the process of putting solar panels on our roof so that I can drive on sunshine (perfect for Florida where we live).

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