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The future of the electric car is a matter of much conjecture. Last week at the SAE World Convention in Detroit, Kevin Layden, director of electrification programs and engineering for Ford, told the press his company has no plans to join the electric car range race. Instead, it will introduce a new Focus Electric with 100 miles of range this fall. The Focus Electric currently has 76 miles of range.
When asked about plans regarding a potential range extension for the Focus Electric, Ford’s director of electrification programs and engineering explained that the estimated range of the 2017 Focus Electric is “enough to cover the daily commute of most drivers.”
Kevin Layden was present at the SAE World Congress, where he was interviewed by Automotive News and explained that increasing the single-charge range of the Focus Electric will increase both the cost and weight of the car. Meanwhile, the smaller range when compared to its rivals allows the use of a smaller, cheaper, and lighter battery pack.
As Automotive News notes, several speakers stated that the “range anxiety” which makes some customers fear electric cars can be transcended by providing a range of at least 200 miles (321 km) with a single charge.
In December, Ford committed $4.5 billion to rejuvenate its electrified vehicle lineup.
Agencies/Canadajournal
