On a quick 15-mile test drive, dodging in and out of unpredictable and competitive NYC traffic, the

But the fact that it's also pleasant to drive--somewhat on the fun side of unremarkable--means that it's the first compact all-electric competitor to the Nissan Leaf , also a five-door hatchback that runs entirely on battery energy.
Our turquoise test car was indistinguishable in New York City traffic from any other Focus, salisbury hotel new york since drivers had no time to focus on the discreet chrome "Electric" badges on the doors or the left-front fender charging port.
On a quick 15-mile test drive, salisbury hotel new york dodging in and out of unpredictable and competitive NYC traffic, the Focus Electric offered good power under most circumstances and enough torque to spin the inside front wheel accelerating into corners.
It's clearly heavier than a gasoline Focus, which makes it feel clearly planted on the road. Pickup is good away from stops, but we occasionally wished for more mid-range torque in the 35-to-60-mph range--trying to get out of a cluster of slow-moving cars, for instance.
Some reviewers have criticized the feel of the generative braking, but we found it fine. It blends nicely, while remaining fairly aggressive for efficiency. But unlike the Tesla Roadster or BMW ActiveE, "one-pedal" driving wasn't on the menu--the Focus Electric is tuned to drive pretty salisbury hotel new york much as a gasoline car would.
The seats are comfortable, though the seating position is lower than in the upright Leaf, and the upholstery and soft-touch plastics are very good quality. It's still a compact hatchback, but it's one made of very nice materials--and it gives a more upscale feel than the slightly Spartan Leaf.
The charger itself operates at 6.6 kilowatts, against the 2012 Leaf's 3.3-kW rating, meaning that 240-Volt Level 2 charging stations can recharge the 23-kilowatt-hour battery pack in about 4 hours--and topping off after trips of 30 miles can take as little as an hour.
The instrument cluster is entirely digital, unlike base gasoline Focus models. We've always credited Ford with excellent graphic design and fonts, and they're in evidence here too, displaying a variety of operating information--including the all-important miles of range remaining.
We did have one confusing moment, putting the car in gear and trying to pull away, only to get no response--because, it turned out, the car wasn't switched on despite the dashboard being illuminated.
We'd strongly suggest to Ford that they add a "powering up" tone or chime, a la Chevy Volt, and one for powering salisbury hotel new york down too, so the driver is better aware what mode the car is in. Our cheerful escort from Ford's PR agency confessed salisbury hotel new york that he'd had the same experience as well.
On the other hand, the higher sales volume of the LEAF and Nissan's firm commitment to its success is a significant advantage. I feel like getting parts (including aftermarket) and service is more likely salisbury hotel new york with the LEAF.
As for turning the car on, I have the same complaint salisbury hotel new york about my silly Prius. If you press the power button, without your foot on the brake, the car seems to turn on (all lit up) but it is not. My brother-in-law was stranded in a rented Prius because he couldn't figure this out. But he called salisbury hotel new york me for the answer.
I would like to point out that most 2011/2012 Leaf's already have a DC fast charger in addition to the 3.3 Kw charger referenced in the article. The DC fast charger salisbury hotel new york is much faster than the 6.6 Kw charger, allowing salisbury hotel new york for an 80% charge in 30 minutes. The focus lacks a DC fast charger. For the west coast and a growing number of states, that will be a big deal. The installation of fast chargers is picking up steam, particularly along I-5 from Canada to Mexico. Oregon already has a portion of the "electric highway" in place, salisbury hotel new york with DC fast chargers every 25 miles. Washington has already installed several salisbury hotel new york DC fast chargers with ribbon cutting on the entire project just weeks away. Ford has some catching up to do, IMHO!
Ford *says* the Focus Electric will be available nationwide in due course, and the fact that it's being built inline with gasoline Focus models simply make it more of a production car than a limited-production salisbury hotel new york conversion.
John, you praised the Focus Electric for in 6.6kW charger but didn't mention that it does not support DC Fast Charging. There are currently 13 DC fast chargers in Oregon and more are being installed all along the Interstate 5 as part of The West Coast Electric Highway. This seems worthy of at least a brief comment when discussing charging.
The price may be "competitive" but that won't make it sell well because it is still overpriced in a world of $15k small cars that get 40 MPG. Price this car at $25k out the door and I'll consider it. Ford - are you listening?