Reminder: Ford Chat 1pm Today

[Charged Up]

Chad D' Arcy will discuss the rollout and reservation process.

http://social.ford.com/our-articles/car ... had-darcy/

[jmueller065]

Well that was lame--he really didn't go into anything more than what we already knew (figured he wouldn't have).

In addition, they were filtering the questions: Granted they only had 1 hour but it appeared to be limited to questions that "they could answer"! (I fired a few off that were never addressed, even one as simple as "How come it isn't available in red?")

[Charged Up]

Yes if you go to these things hoping for new information, you will come away disappointed. Here are some of the questions and answers:

Comment From Marc
What is the range? When do you expect to have the EPA number on that?

Chad D'Arcy:
Thanks for the question, Marc. For the range, we anticipate being competitive in our EPA number. However, the daily use range we are targeting is between 70 and 100 miles, depending on driving conditions and customer usage.


Comment From Marc
What does Ford's battery warranty actually guarantee?


Chad D'Arcy:
We'll also be releasing the warranty information in a couple of weeks. Part of the warranty will cover specific EV components similar to current Hybrid components.



Chad D'Arcy:
We are currently in Phase 1 of our launch and are going to 19 different market areas including Orlando. We will be going to additional markets in Phase 2 as we increase production and EV infrastructure continues to grow.


Chad D'Arcy:
Austin is one of the 19 markets in Phase 1 and Ford EV Certified dealers will be able to order in conjunction with the 2013 model year.

Comment From Cathy
Is an enclosed building required for the charging station? I rent with no garage. How could/would that work for someone like me?

Chad D'Arcy:
An enclosed building is not required for the charging station. The Leviton charging station can be hard-wired to be used outside. For those customers who own a home, one of the advantages of the Leviton home charging station is that it can be easily moved to your next home.


Comment From Pete
Can I lease a Focus Electric or is it only available for purchase?

Chad D'Arcy:
The 2012 Focus Electric will be available for lease. Specific lease details are in development. For purchase, the starting at price of $39,200 comes fully equipped compared to other base EV vehicles, along with being eligible for a up to a $7500 federal tax credit and possible state/local tax credits.


Chad D'Arcy:
We have noticed a trend that EV buyers are purchasing fully equipped vehicles. In addition, as common with most vehicle launches, high trim models tend to be popular.


Comment From Tim
Will the Electric Focus make an artificial engine noise as was recently talked about?

Chad D'Arcy:
The recent EV sound study that the Facebook community participated in provided great insights on the types of sounds that future customers are expecting to hear on the outside of the vehicle as upcoming federal mandates will require. Currently the vehicle will have a quiet experience.

Comment From Guest
How will I know which Ford dealerships sell Focus Electric? Will there be a sign on the outside of the building?


Chad D'Arcy:
Ford.com lists the EV Certified dealerships by state (and is available as a PDF for easy printing). As we sell Focus Electric in future markets, we will continue to add to the list of EV Certified dealerships found on the website.