Electric Focus charges faster than Nissan's Leaf

Electric Focus charges faster than Nissan's Leaf

Fri Jan 14 2011
Byline: Michael Bettencourt  

Ford will launch an all-electric version of its compact Focus hatchback by the end of 2011 in the U.S., and in Canada in 2012, Ford of Canada confirmed this week.  

Though Nissan's Leaf, which is scheduled to arrive this fall, will be the first battery electric vehicle available in Canada, the Focus BEV offers a strong Canadian connection, with the entire electric powertrain developed by Aurora.

 

The Focus Electric, as it is officially called, will be recharged through a port on the driver's side fender.

-It has a high-tech illuminated ring that flashes in quadrants as the battery is "filling up"

-Solid ring means a fully charged battery.

-A full charge will take about half the time of the Nissan Leaf's, at three to four hours

-It uses a 240-volt home charging station.  

-This charge time suggests that it has a smaller battery than the Leaf, which would also mean less range.

-Ford said this week it will match the Leaf's stated 100- mile (160-km) maximum range.  

   

Ford's five-door Focus BEV seats five, just like the regular Focus and one more than its Volt notchback rival, but sports a unique front-end design that could have come straight off an Aston Martin.

  

 2011 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc.