The new Euro-spec Ford Focus Electric is now getting
a nice boost in its driving range, thanks to the adoption of a bigger battery
pack.
Measuring 33.5kWh in capacity, the new battery
offers 50 percent more energy than the previous 23kWh pack, giving the new
Focus Electric a significantly healthier range of 225 km.
Paired to it is an electric motor that makes 145 PS, with both of them being liquid-cooled and -heated, in a bid to
increase their energy efficiency and battery lifespan. Another highlight of
Ford’s updated EV is the offering of a new fast-charging connector to the
industry-standard Combined Charging System (CSS), which can deliver an 80
percent charge in just 30 minutes.
The same connector can deliver a full charge in
around 5 hours when plugged into a 32 amp AC home-charger, with 150 km worth of range requiring 3 to 4 hours. Ford is also working with other
major car makers, including BMW and Mercedes, in order to create Europe’s
highest-powered charging network, with an initial target of 400 ultra-fast
charging points.
The latest version of the Ford Focus Electric also
benefits from the addition of the SYNC3 infotainment system that includes
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as owners can still check the battery status of
their car with the MyFord smartwatch application.
Ford has now opened the order books for the new
Focus Electric in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom.