Ford Motors Continues to Lead Green Innovation as 2012 Focus Electric Beats Out Nissan Leaf

Charging your Focus Electric couldn’t be easier with MyFord^® Mobile

Ford continues creating green envy with 2012 Focus Electric Vehicle

Continuing to lead in green innovation and hot on the heels of the January reveal of The 2013 Ford Fusion, the first Ford dealers have been officially certified to sell Ford Motor’s first all-electric car, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric.  Certification means a Ford dealership has met the automaker’s green guidelines for dealers selling electric vehicles – including installation of at least two onsite charging stations and participation in highly specialized training in the field of electric vehicles. 

Oh and did I mention the 2012 Focus Electric is capable of being recharged in nearly half the time as the Nissan Leaf?  Plus with the Focus Electric value charging feature, it's cheaper than charging a Nissan Leaf.  Quicker, cheaper charging than the Nissan Leaf and Ford delivers their legendary, muscular design translated into eco-beauty in the 2012 Focus Electric.  Can you tell I love it? 

The all-new 2012 Focus Titanium 4-Door in Ingot Silver Metallic and the Titanium 5-Door in Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat

When I sat inside of the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric in January at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the first thing that hit me was the roomy interior.  The next thing that hit me was the fact that the 2012 Ford Focus Electric is America’s most fuel-efficient five- seater with an EPA rating of 110 MPGe city. 

Ford designers were inspired by the concept of the “butterfly effect,” in which a small change can have an enormous impact

In fact, everyone was buzzing at NAIAS about the 2012 Focus Electric being rated the world’s most fuel-efficient five-passenger vehicle.  Focus Electric has been certified by the EPA to offer 110 MPGe in the city and 105 MPGe combined, beating Nissan Leaf by 6 MPGe.

Many businesses and local governments provide EV charging stations for a fee or for free. Find a local charging station simply by using the MyFord Touch® Navigation System inside the Focus Electric

Focus Electric also offers a faster charging system that allows for a full recharge in nearly half the time of Nissan Leaf thanks to a larger on-board charger. A unique value charging feature powered by Microsoft is designed to help owners charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates, which makes charging Focus Electric less costly than charging Nissan Leaf.

The available Parking Technology Package

Ford extends the environmental benefits of EVs down their supply chain

As you can imagine,  with more motor power, standard features, passenger room with faster and cheaper charging than Nissan Leaf, dealers have been eager to start selling Focus Electric.

“The amount of hard work and resources dealers put into becoming certified really is a testament to how excited they are, how excited customers are and how excited we are about electric vehicles, starting with Focus Electric,” said David Gutman, Ford’s field operations manager.

SYNC® with MyFord Touch® features EcoRoute, so you’ll have the confidence of always knowing the most economical way to get to your destination

The first 67 green Certified dealers are in California, New York and New Jersey – markets that account for a large percentage of electric vehicle sales and will begin seeing the Focus Electric later this spring (a list of qualifying dealers can be found here). 

The standard, innovative cloth seat fabric in Focus Electric is made with REPREVE® fiber, produced from 100% recycled materials

Although Ford dealers nationwide have been chomping at the bit to to offer the new Focus, first they had to satisfy a list of other requirements to become certified, including:

• One of the two required charging stations at the dealership must be in the customer area and the other must be in the service area
• Participation in a Ford Go Green Dealer Onsite Facility Assessment to identify energy and cost saving opportunities with a goal of facilitating energy efficiency, lower operating expenses and carbon footprint reduction
• At least one Focus Electric must be available at all times for demonstrations and events 
• Of the sales consultant, sales manager, service advisor and service manager jobs at each location, 80 percent must meet specific electric vehicle training certification requirements that cover topics including advanced knowledge of electrification
• Each showroom will have point-of-purchase display materials including digital assets and window signage

The Focus Electric features a well thought out and versatile rear Cargo Management System that is optimized for your storage needs

Fuel efficiency for all

The Focus range soon will be joined by the new 2013 Ford Fusion – aiming to be America’s most fuel-efficient gas- and hybrid-powered midsize sedans – to help create one of the industry’s most fuel-efficient car lineups. The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is projected to become America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan by achieving more than 100 MPGe in electric mode.

Focus Electric is to be joined by the new 2013 Ford Fusion – aiming to be America’s most fuel-efficient gas- and hybrid-powered midsize sedans – to help create one of the industry’s most fuel-efficient car lineups

“Ford is giving customers the power of choice for leading fuel economy regardless of what type of vehicle or powertrain technology they choose,” said Eric Kuehn, chief nameplate engineer, Focus Electric. “The Focus and Fusion are great examples of how we transformed our fleet of cars, utilities and trucks with leading fuel efficiency.”

The all-new 2012 Focus Titanium 5-door in Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.

Keeping with their innovating green platform, production of the Focus Electric began in December 2011 at Ford’s eco-tricked out Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) in Wayne, Michigan.

Although the roll out of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric will begin in the early electric vehicle adaptor states of California, New York and New Jersey,  by summer's end, Focus Electric will be available in 19 markets across the United States.  And my friends at Ford tell me that by the end of the year, Focus Electric will be available nationwide.

Can't wait to get started creating your custom Ford Focus Electric Vehicle? See if this doesn't whet your appetite.

P.S.- Have you heard about The Green PolkaDot Box! Recently launched with over 12,000 members and backed by the Organic Consumer's Association, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online.  It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living!!  You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. I love it.