Ford Motor Co. expects its upcoming Focus Electric will be the first five-passenger vehicle in the United States to receive a 100 MPGe rating from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA created an “mpg-equivalent” rating system last year to offer consumers energy-use comparisons between electric and gas-powered vehicles. The figure is derived by calculating the amount of energy required for a full charge and the estimated range.
The Nissan Leaf is rated at 99 MPGe while the Chevrolet Volt is rated at 93 MPGe in electric mode.
“The Focus Electric is a shining example of the leading fuel economy Ford is offering for each new vehicle,” Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, said in a released statement.
Ford also announced today that it is beginning production of the Focus Electric at its green-tech Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne.
The automaker boasts that the Focus Electric is the first to offer faster charging via 240-volt outlets, which customers can have installed in their homes, potentially halving the charge time of the Nissan Leaf.
Ford will start selling a limited number of Focus Electrics in California, New York and New Jersey in coming months before expanding sales to all 19 launch markets — including Detroit — later in 2012.
The all-electric car is expected to retail for $39,995 before a federal tax credit. The Volt costs about the same while the Leaf starts at around $35,000.
Source: Mlive.com
