Ford Reveals the Electric Focus

Sounds interesting from a Leaf competitor's standpoint. However it all boils down to ergonomics such as interior luggage space for hauling things, cup holders, nooks and crannies to store thing which from the pictures online there are almost no storage spaces of any kind.

That is kind of insane to have such small storage spaces in this day and age!

The center console seems positioned too far back to be useful while driving. The shifter takes up so much room there is nothing available except the 'way too far away' glove box so good luck toting along your ipad, iphone, hearing aids e/remotes, your bubble gum, etc.

It looks there is no rear trunk space at all as the battery is far fatter than the other makers of EV's including one under the seat and behind it almost all the way to the top of the seat.

The front grill is a bit awkward but the rear looks very Lexus like and nice. Overall it's a pleasing looking car on par with the Leaf but it won't really standout from the crowd and I suspect most EV owners want something that stands out from the pack and neither the Volt nor the Focus do that.

Typical Detroit to make cookie cutter cars.

The charging speed IS a factor however as the LEAF charges too slowly to be practical (7 to 8 hours with 220V, over 12-16 hours with 110).

Price will be the driving factor probably however and I bet this Focus will come in almost $40K. Any bets?

I've read news at ford that they are targeting 22.5k to 28k. with the 7500 rebate from the government, almost as cheap as a normal car. So even if all you say is true (you sound like a nissan plant (maybe a leaf)) then I doubt others will be able to compete with the Focus EV.

Only a cloistered marketing agent would think that cup holder placement, ,luggage and amenities is the priority that consumers want!

It is possible to create a 90 mpg highway car for under 10 grand right now. I'm not talking those flimsy solar cars or even electric hybrid, i mean lean burn four seat gasoline combustion engine. Only car companies think a car that looks like this won't sell:
www.aerocivic.com/imgs/profile-z.jpg

Design a new kind of cross country touring car. 90mpg highway. California to Massachusetts on 2 tanks of gas and see how it would dominate the market. College kids wanting to see America, work commuters.

A boat tail on that car would give it 15% better fuel economy. But it's not there cause it's unsightly for consumers? Side wheel skirts, aerodynamic grill, flat under pan. These are basic concepts that would make a car designed for it's role as a conveyance of people not 2,000 pounds of metal. You can make an averaged size car much lighter using carbon fiber and MUCH more safer. Carbon fiber hard to manufacturer? Make just the hood carbon fiber. That's 130 pounds saved just in the metal hood i know that car has!

Somehow small light cars are categorized as unsafe, or un-roomy, but that is simply not true. What people want right now is the Model T of efficiency. The first car to get 100mpg highway will be THAT car and make all cars before it obsolete. It will have buyer ques twice as long as when the Prius fist came out. That company that makes it will be rich. It is possible to do that today or better with existing technology for under 18-20 thousand.

I ask why are we unwilling?

Nice. If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious sh1t.

I am an American who wants to buy an EV ASAP but as of now nothing can be purchased in Colorado save the expressly unaffordable Tesla (> $100,000 is NOT affordable to 98% of Americans).

Do note that Nissan has chosen to avoid those cold weather markets like Colorado probably because they know the range might be less than 50 miles in such places which speaks volumes about whether these EV's will be practical or not.

In Ford's defense I am surprised and happy that Ford is including Denver in one of the initial release markets that says a lot about American businesses for Americans and Nissan is for Nissan stockholders in Japan who could care less about 'fairness'. Only their image.

Hopefully the Ford Focus EV will be priced under $35,000 and with the rebate that might work for many Americans but any more won't as it would just make more sense to keep buying the Toyota Prius at around $22,000 instead of paying $27,500 after rebates for a full EV with limited range.

The price point Nissan ($32,850) has priced their EV at is a break even price point where people can seriously consider an EV versus a hybrid or a straight gas economy car. Even then it's a stretch due to the limited range in bad weather.

Hopefully the Honda Fit EV will be under $30K and the Toyota RAV 4 made by Tesla will be under $35K and then there will be more serious competition for EV considerations.

Is it just me or is the CMAX and Focus the same car?