A very wise muppet once told us “it’s not easy being green”. Turns out Ford is on a mission to prove this untrue. Enter the new Ford Focus electric, a bold submission to the all electric ring. Going up against the already popular Chevy Volt, the new Toyota Prius C and the Nissan Leaf, Ford has wasted no time stepping up and surpassing the curve. While 33% of the FoMoCo line-up currently receives over 40 MPG, this is their very first all electric vehicle. With industry leading charge times, new driver coaching features and a surprisingly fun to drive ride, the new Ford Focus Electric may give the competition some pause.
The Focus electric looks relatively similar to the currently available Focus models which embody the current styling DNA we first saw in the Evos Concept, with cues such as the raised trapezoidal grill. With the exception of a small badge on the doors and the trunk lid, the car doesn’t call particular attention to the revolutionary technology maintained within.
It’s the same story with the interior. Seating is wrapped in stiff, stitched cloth (optional leather is available), the dash is standard Ford fare, and the Sony logo graces a clean, clutter-free center console. On the symmetrical steering wheel are all the controls needed by driver to interact with the car’s infotainment systems. Even the LCD gauge cluster looks identical.
Much of the trunk space has been allocated to house the battery, and apart from that and a couple badges, it’s hard to spot any significant difference between this vehicle and the standard Focus. Then you turn it on and oh, wait …. there it is.
Suddenly, everything is different. The lack of roar from even the smallest engine is a little disconcerting, even if it’s kind of the point. Your first moments in an all-electric vehicle underline just how much listening you do as a driver. The Ford rep in the back seat asked to me to cut across the 4 lanes of 10th avenue, dodging the ever moving onslaught of yellow Crown Vic’s and commercial drivers to make the left only two blocks up. As this would be difficult for regular small car with a punchy 4-cylinder, I was even more concerned for a borderline mid-sized car with no “real” engine. Still, with only a small green light on the dash to inform me that the car was actually on and under the advisement of the all knowing Ford rep (but not completely forgetting this car wasn’t mine), I awaited my opening and punched in the accelerator. To my own surprise, the vehicle shot off without hesitation. In fact, I was startled enough to quickly tap the brakes, whose responsiveness was equally surprising. The car jerked to a stop and I looked embarrassingly at my fellow car mates. Ok, round 2. Time to jump in.
I find another opening and punched down the pedal once again and the Focus Electric shot right up. Due the flat torque curve created by the electric motor, all the power was available at once. Quite simply, this car can move. I quickly dove into my lane, and saw an opening in the adjacent lane that I needed in anticipation of my intended right turn in a couple of blocks. I tapped the wheel right, still hesitant to simply merge, only to have the electronic steering instantly respond. A little more “gas” and I was safely in my lane, prepping for yet another right hand merge as my impending turn drew ever nearer.
Emboldened by the success I was having in the Focus Electric, a few more rapid rapid maneuvers put me in position for my turn. I rounded the corner with a sense of satisfaction and surprise as car silently moved along. Once safely out of the maddening northbound scrum, the Ford rep began to instruct me on some of the vehicle’s more interesting and technologically advanced features. He had me set a destination on the easy use GPS; a charging station in a nearby garage (of which there a surprising many along the streets of Manhattan). Suddenly, a flock of blue semi-translucent butterflies appeared to the left of my speedometer on the dash. It seems that the more “fuel” conscience I drive, the more butterflies I would capture in my screen. An interesting concept to say the least. My inner gamer was immediately intrigued. You mean to tell me that I can save the planet and quantify (and thus compete) my driving skill? I’m sold.
The green light ahead turned yellow and I instinctively began the slow the car down. As we reached the intersection, the traffic light turned red and I brought the vehicle to a smooth, slow stop. This time it was the left side of my cluster that lit up. It showed my battery status, but more importantly it showed a percentage number that represented how much of my power and momentum I had recaptured by my well honed smooth stopping skills. An impressive 87%. Once again, good driving habits being quantified, thus allowing me to demonstrably measure my habits and compete with fellow eco-drivers.
Within a few blocks, the Focus Electric began to retrain my driving. While my overzealous passenger and photographer attempted to goad me, I was unperturbed. Thanks to the simple act of making it a “game”, I was now determined to drive with eco-perfection. Ford may be on to something here, if only there was a way I could use my social media accounts to brag about this newly acquired driving skill to all my friends. Turns out the MyFord Touch mobile application (available on iOS and Android devices) allows me to do just that. Along with control the start/stop, lock/unlock and cabin temperatures all from my phone. I can even compare my driving scores against my friends and other fellow Ford drivers using the app.
We continued to tour the city as I was getting comfortable with the responsive turning and smooth acceleration of the vehicle. Soon enough, I was on the West Side Highway, one of the few places you can gun a car on the entire island of Manhattan. I was not about the waste this opportunity. We turn on the highway, and I gently let my foot find the carpet. I was told the climate control features can be quite battery draining so I simply rolled down my window and assume my usual cruising position, arm resting on the sill. In only a couple small blocks, I had forgotten the revolutionary drive train, the world-saving recycled materials that went into it (mostly plastic bottles and used blue jeans from what I’m told), and the fact that I would have to remember to plug this car. I had forgotten almost everything except how fun it was to drive this car.
Maybe then that was the key all along. I could tell you that the Focus Electric has a 4-hour full charge period (the Volt and Leaf can take up to 8). I could tell you how great the power regenerating technologies are, how many eco-points I can post on a leader board, and how much MPGe one can expect from this car (105). But the most impressive parts of this car are the normal things. At its most basic, it feels, runs and looks like a Focus, which I personally think is high praise. Maybe Kermit was right. Maybe being green isn’t easy, when it’s done right, it’s quite memorable.
Words By – Hari Mani
Photos By – Victor Kalogiannis
