While Chevrolet’s Bolt electric vehicle is chasing after Tesla with a driving range of at least 200 miles, Ford has its sights set squarely on…Nissan?
Despite Ford’s recent pledge to invest an additional $4.5 billion into its electric vehicle program, Kevin Layden, Ford’s director of electrified powertrain engineering, told Automotive News that the 2017 version of the Ford Focus Electric will offer a mere 100 miles of range. That betters the current model but will put Ford far short of the EV leaders.
The company’s decision to use a smaller battery pack with a limited range amid the promise of 200-plus miles of driving range from both the sub-$40,000 Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 stems from Ford’s desire to keep the Focus Electric’s weight and cost to a minimum, Layden explained.
Although the EPA has yet to confirm the updated Ford Focus Electric’s 100-mile range, the figure would add an additional 24 miles of travel per charge to the Focus Electric over its 2016-model-year counterpart’s 76-mile driving range. Ford’s electrified hatchback will then be close to par with the 2016 Nissan Leaf with its available 30-kWh battery pack, which offers a driving range of 107 miles.
Other new features of the 2017 Ford Focus Electric include DC fast-charge capability, which is expected to provide the Focus Electric’s battery pack with an 80-percent charge in approximately 30 minutes, as well as a “Brake Coach” system that helps drivers make the most of the Focus Electric’s regenerative-braking system.
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