US-based automobile manufacturer Ford Motor has commenced production of its first full-electric vehicle to be built in Europe, the new Focus Electric in Saarlouis, Germany.
The move follows the company's investment of EUR16m to integrate Focus Electric production directly into its production line at Saarlouis in order to increase production to address the increasing market demand.
According to the company, the Focus Electric is expected to lead the way for electrified and fuel-efficient vehicle range in Europe and will be followed by the C MAX Energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in 2014 and new Mondeo Hybrid later.
The Focus Electric is developed as a 'One Ford' global vehicle and is powered by electric motor that runs on lithium-ion battery to generate an output of 143PS, while offering a top speed of 136km/h.
Focus Electric vehicle will come with 6.6kW integrated onboard charger that offers driving range of about 100km with 2-3hours charging and about 150km with 3-4 hours charging from a 32A power supply.
Features of the vehicle include regenerative braking, Brake Coach and the new user interface called SmartGauge that calculates and displays range based on remaining energy, driver's performance and use of climate control and audio systems.
