Ford has no plans to jump into race over electric car range
Executive says Focus boost to 160 km will both ‘satisfy’ and be affordable
Ford won’t be chasing the 200mile (320-kilometre) benchmark of electric range, unlike Chevrolet with its Bolt and Tesla with its Model 3.
That’s the latest word from Automotive News, which spoke with Kevin Layden, Ford’s head of electrification programs and engineering. In fact, Layden thinks 100 miles (160 km) for the electrified Ford Focus is plenty.
The Focus is getting an update for 2017, including a range boost to to 160 km, from 122 km in the 2016 model.
“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. “It’s going to be really affordable and a step up from where we are now.”
This comes at the expense of the disappointment from attendees at the SAE World Congress in Detroit, which both Automotive News (autonews.com) and Layden attended.
Many speakers said they believed automakers would need to set ranges at least 200 miles to alleviate any range anxiety.
But Layden pointed out that the Focus Electric’s 100-mile range means a smaller, lighter and less expensive battery pack.
Ford remains committed to spending US$4.5 billion to refresh its electric lineup.
Both the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 are expected to start at the US$30,000 price point.
Not only that, Nissan has also promised a redesigned Leaf in 2018 that will offer a range of 200 miles on a full charge.