2017 Focus electric 100-Mile Range, DC Fast Charging

[wrongway]

is this too little to late? Chevy Bolt will be hitting the market about the same time, curious to see what they do with pricing.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101359_updated-2017-ford-focus-electric-100-mile-range-dc-fast-charging

 

[jmueller065]

Hey its something Ford did something! whoo hoo

yeah it isn't 200 miles like the Bolt but Ford is making a minor investment in the car ! LOL

Frankly I'm astonished.

 

[jmueller065]

This calls for a blog post:
https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/do-i-believe-my-eyes/

(Note I included the video Ford posted on it in the post..for what its worth...)

 

[michael]

Sorry Ford. Not nearly enough FFE is a great little car and very well appointed. But 100 miles won't do the job in 2017

 

[NightHawk]

Sounds like Ford is just trying to upgrade the FFE to be similar to the current upgraded Nissan Leaf capabilities?
But they will be 2 years late by 2017, they need to shoot for at least 150mile range by then.
Sep 2017 is when my current 2014 FFE 3 year lease will end, so an upgraded model by for 2017-2018 would be nice, but next time I want to buy and will only do that for a longer range model.

 

[RPadTV]

It's sad that Ford is doing the bare minimum. When my FFE lease is up in 2017, I'm looking to buy a BEV. Right now, Ford doesn't have any compelling options.

 

[jmueller065]

Now a 2nd post with more thoughts:
https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/more-thoughts-on-fords-minimal-announcement/

I think Ford really doesn't mind being behind and since they only sell 100 or so FFE's a month I bet they will continue to sell 100 or so 2017 FFE's a month even when there are other options with greater range.

The other interesting thing: those 12 other electrified vehicles? most likely hybrids and plugin hybrids. They already have one to announce at the Detroit Auto show: (from this Inside EVs article)

I think their guess is right: This is the next Fusion Energi (since the Fusion line is due for a refresh).

Hopefully it will have a longer electric range than 20 miles (it'd be really nice if they were competitive and gave it the same 50 mile EV range as the Volt).

Ah yup: Read this Detroit News article on it: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2015/12/10/ford-invest-electric-car-research/77113944/

That last quote from a Ford person:

“About 200 miles seems to be the rule of thumb, but that doesn’t mean 100 can’t satisfy people,” Brinley said. “That can propel sales.”

 

[hybridbear]

Now a 2nd post with more thoughts:
https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/more-thoughts-on-fords-minimal-announcement/
I think Ford really doesn't mind being behind and since they only sell 100 or so FFE's a month I bet they will continue to sell 100 or so 2017 FFE's a month even when there are other options with greater range.
That last quote from a Ford person:

“About 200 miles seems to be the rule of thumb, but that doesn’t mean 100 can’t satisfy people,” Brinley said. “That can propel sales.”

I agree with your blog post comment that Ford is perfectly happy selling ~100 Focus Electrics per month. The comment at the end of the Detroit News article really shows that.

Overall, much ado about nothing.

 

[redcelt007]

I was a little disappointed also about the 100 mile range, but the DC fast charging might make up for that.

 

[jstack6]

FORD also has a battery pack that never seems to lose capacity. With 100 mile range, Fast Charging and a long life battery it should do very well. Everyday commuting is perfect. I didn't read where the Air Cond and Heater are more efficient heat pumps? That would also help the range a lot in hot or cold.

The battery should be good for at least 20 years at 80% or better capacity. My 2013 has 3 HOT Phoenix summers and 22K miles and has not lost any capacity.

 

[michael]

FORD also has a battery pack that never seems to lose capacity. With 100 mile range, Fast Charging and a long life battery it should do very well. Everyday commuting is perfect. I didn't read where the Air Cond and Heater are more efficient heat pumps? That would also help the range a lot in hot or cold.

The battery should be good for at least 20 years at 80% or better capacity. My 2013 has 3 HOT Phoenix summers and 22K miles and has not lost any capacity.

I absolutely disagree with that statement. Mine is down to just above 15 kWh usable at 48,000 miles and 26 months in service.

Idaho National labs tests show approximately 10% capacity fade at 12,000 miles and 1 year of service.

What is your basis for that claim? How exactly are you measuring it? Looks to me like the Ford battery fades just like every other lithium battery.

 

[E Focused]

Interesting review in Inside EVs :

http://insideevs.com/2017-ford-focus-100-miles-range-dc-fast-charging-arrives-next-fall-13-new-evs/

there is a lot of hating on these cars from people that have never driven one

 

[michael]

Interesting review in Inside EVs :

http://insideevs.com/2017-ford-focus-100-miles-range-dc-fast-charging-arrives-next-fall-13-new-evs/

there is a lot of hating on these cars from people that have never driven one

That's a fact.

They hate it because it's a compliance car. I like it because it's on a proven platform and looks like a real car.

They hate it because it has blended brakes. I like it because the brakes feel pretty much like the brakes on every other car.

They hate it because it has too many buttons. I like it because I can do most of what's needed without scrolling through a bunch of screens.




Ok...now here's my dream....the car under the shroud is a 200 mile Fusion!!

Pleasepleaseplease make it so....

 

[awefulspeller]

Ford,

Please offer a battery pack extension or upgrade for current FFE owners in order to provide a sense of pride in their purchases!!! If not, word-of-mouth conversations from owners of the first version of FFE will be something like, "I should have waited" and "I'll never buy a ICE car again, and my next purchase will be an EV that will give me the most milage for my buck, regardless of who makes it".

 

[jmueller065]

Please offer a battery pack extension or upgrade for current FFE owners in order to provide a sense of pride in their purchases!!!

Nope, never going to happen. Has any OEM offered an upgrade to any car (e.g. "hey we came out with a brand new engine, for $2000 we'll put it in your 5 year old car").

Of course the exception to that is software updates (My Ford Touch, Tesla, Chrysler's uConnect, Cadillac's Cue, etc.).

In all cases the upgrade path is: buy a new car.

 

[michael]

That is a key reason to lease rather than buy.

 

[wrongway]

Please offer a battery pack extension or upgrade for current FFE owners in order to provide a sense of pride in their purchases!!!

Nope, never going to happen. Has any OEM offered an upgrade to any car (e.g. "hey we came out with a brand new engine, for $2000 we'll put it in your 5 year old car").

Of course the exception to that is software updates (My Ford Touch, Tesla, Chrysler's uConnect, Cadillac's Cue, etc.).

In all cases the upgrade path is: buy a new car.

Answer == YES

http://shop.teslamotors.com/products/roadster-3-0-upgrade

 

[jmueller065]

Answer == YES

Only Tesla. Don't expect ANY other OEM to behave that way.

 

[michael]

On the Rav 4 EV board, Tony Williams is contemplating offering battery upgrades to the RAV, up to a total of 70 kWh, plus a DCQC upgrade.

http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1734


But I do agree, best plan is to get the next generation of cars. And of course he's not the OEM, he's an aftermarket modifier.

 

[awefulspeller]

Please offer a battery pack extension or upgrade for current FFE owners in order to provide a sense of pride in their purchases!!!

Nope, never going to happen. Has any OEM offered an upgrade to any car (e.g. "hey we came out with a brand new engine, for $2000 we'll put it in your 5 year old car").

Of course the exception to that is software updates (My Ford Touch, Tesla, Chrysler's uConnect, Cadillac's Cue, etc.).

In all cases the upgrade path is: buy a new car.

Good point. Ford is a bunch of followers, like sheep.

:roll: