Ford is now the second major manufacturer in the past month to say it is not aspiring to increase range for its entry level electric vehicle to 200-plus to follow Tesla, GM, and eventually Nissan. Kevin Layden talked to the media during the SAE World Congress in Detroit last week and confirmed the 2017 Focus Electric will go about with its batteries full for about 100 miles – which is at least twice less than what the Bolt and Model 3 want to offer.
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It is a little unusual for an automaker like Ford which is working so hard to boost the efficiency of the Ford F-150 to be content with offering only 100 miles of range for its upcoming 2017 Ford Focus Electric. A lower purchase rate suggests less range.
In late 2015, Ford announced a $4.5 billion investment into electrification, saying that about 40 percent of its entire lineup will have an electric propulsion element by 2020. “It’s going to be actually low-cost and a step up from where we are now”.
The Ioniq is objective made as an electrified auto, but it is also offered in hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms, as well as a pure battery electric version.
“I think right now with the launch of the Focus Electric at 100 miles, it’s going to satisfy a big chunk of the population”, Layden said. On the flip-side of the equation, Ford is not interested in participating in this war as it focuses more on affordability and profitability in lieu of extended ranges. That pits it head-to-head with the Nissan Leaf, which in the United States is priced from US$29,010 ($37,800) and has a range of 172km (107mi).
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Ford Motor Co. may be falling behind in the electric vehicle race.
