Comments on: GM-Volt.com Ford Focus BEV Test Drive http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sasparilla http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/#comment-188029 Sasparilla Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:02:20 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1469#comment-188029 Just to add a bit here, that's come to light since this article was penned. Magna actually put this electric vehicle together, without Ford's knowledge, and just happened to use the Ford Focus platform because it fit their design requirements. Magna did this because they intend to offer this turnkey EV design (to drop into similar vehicle designs) to any manufacturer that wants too. They came to Ford with it, since they used the Focus and Ford said yes, lets run with this. Magna has said they'll offer it to other manufacturers as well. Otherwise Ford would not have had an EV Focus ready at all. Here's an article that lays this out: http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/autos/ford_electric/index.htm In the end, it doesn't matter (and Ford should probably buy Magna, so they own this), but this wasn't Ford working away on an EV (which makes sense, Ford has never been one to push on the EV front, they had to buy Think to have an EV back in the California requirement days as their main strategy back then was to kill the requirement). It'll be interesting to see how the final design from Ford will be, will the Focus's trunk be filled with batteries like the initial design was? (ala the mini-e) Or will it be more refined so that you still have a back seat and trunk with the EV stuff out of the way? Just to add a bit here, that’s come to light since this article was penned. Magna actually put this electric vehicle together, without Ford’s knowledge, and just happened to use the Ford Focus platform because it fit their design requirements.

Magna did this because they intend to offer this turnkey EV design (to drop into similar vehicle designs) to any manufacturer that wants too. They came to Ford with it, since they used the Focus and Ford said yes, lets run with this. Magna has said they’ll offer it to other manufacturers as well.

Otherwise Ford would not have had an EV Focus ready at all.

Here’s an article that lays this out:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/autos/ford_electric/index.htm

In the end, it doesn’t matter (and Ford should probably buy Magna, so they own this), but this wasn’t Ford working away on an EV (which makes sense, Ford has never been one to push on the EV front, they had to buy Think to have an EV back in the California requirement days as their main strategy back then was to kill the requirement).

It’ll be interesting to see how the final design from Ford will be, will the Focus’s trunk be filled with batteries like the initial design was? (ala the mini-e) Or will it be more refined so that you still have a back seat and trunk with the EV stuff out of the way?

]]> By: Ford Announces BEV Focus for 2011 | Sequence Omega http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/#comment-111806 Ford Announces BEV Focus for 2011 | Sequence Omega Thu, 07 May 2009 04:46:23 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1469#comment-111806 [...] Ford has stated previously that the vehicle will get around 100 miles per charge - though I’m starting to question that number. Even setting the parameters at 200W/mi, 100 mile range, 75% depth of discharge (the Volt only has 50% DoD), the battery would need to be about 27kWh. At $750/kWh (for 2011 production), the battery alone would cost more than $20,000. At a 50% depth of discharge, the battery would be 40kWh and cost $30,000. For comparison, a Ford Focus starts at $15,500. Removing the traditional power train could save several thousands of dollars, but you’re still looking at a price tag around $29,000, or $22,250 after the $7500 federal tax credit. It might be $10,000 cheaper than the Volt, but you aren’t going on any road trips with it. [...] [...] Ford has stated previously that the vehicle will get around 100 miles per charge – though I’m starting to question that number. Even setting the parameters at 200W/mi, 100 mile range, 75% depth of discharge (the Volt only has 50% DoD), the battery would need to be about 27kWh. At $750/kWh (for 2011 production), the battery alone would cost more than $20,000. At a 50% depth of discharge, the battery would be 40kWh and cost $30,000. For comparison, a Ford Focus starts at $15,500. Removing the traditional power train could save several thousands of dollars, but you’re still looking at a price tag around $29,000, or $22,250 after the $7500 federal tax credit. It might be $10,000 cheaper than the Volt, but you aren’t going on any road trips with it. [...]

]]> By: Real world range and life. http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/#comment-97703 Real world range and life. Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:55:03 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1469#comment-97703 It's simply not credible to make around 3,500 pounds get 100 miles using a last year's tech 23 kWh lithium powerpack and get a decent life span out of the powerpack. My guess, based on my real world lithium powerpack electric vehicle use, is that a 45 mile range would give them a 5-10 year lifespan, depending on keeping the car in garages (home or parking) when not in use and the quality of Ford powerpack management and integration system. If they truly totally drained it to maximize range, I guess they would get 100 miles, exactly once, after which they would have an inert bunch of lithium, ready for recycllng. Also, if they can get powerpacks in quantity for less than $1,000 / kWh, they are doing well. It’s simply not credible to make around 3,500 pounds get 100 miles using a last year’s tech 23 kWh lithium powerpack and get a decent life span out of the powerpack. My guess, based on my real world lithium powerpack electric vehicle use, is that a 45 mile range would give them a 5-10 year lifespan, depending on keeping the car in garages (home or parking) when not in use and the quality of Ford powerpack management and integration system. If they truly totally drained it to maximize range, I guess they would get 100 miles, exactly once, after which they would have an inert bunch of lithium, ready for recycllng.

Also, if they can get powerpacks in quantity for less than $1,000 / kWh, they are doing well.

]]> By: Dave G http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/#comment-91221 Dave G Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:43:18 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1469#comment-91221 #151 DonC Says: "I believe the peak demand in the NE is in the winter between 6 and 9." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This surprises me. I live in the NE, and it gets really humid in the summer. Without air conditioning, you sort of wilt. In the winter, most people use natural gas or fuel oil heat. I don't know anybody that uses electricity to heat their house. IIRC, all of the blackouts we've had have been in the summer during the day. Where did you hear that peak demand in the NE is in the winter between 6 and 9? #151 DonC Says: “I believe the peak demand in the NE is in the winter between 6 and 9.”
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This surprises me. I live in the NE, and it gets really humid in the summer. Without air conditioning, you sort of wilt.

In the winter, most people use natural gas or fuel oil heat. I don’t know anybody that uses electricity to heat their house.

IIRC, all of the blackouts we’ve had have been in the summer during the day.

Where did you hear that peak demand in the NE is in the winter between 6 and 9?

]]> By: LB http://gm-volt.com/2009/01/14/gm-voltcom-ford-focus-bev-test-drive/#comment-90900 LB Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:30:32 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1469#comment-90900 Excellent! Excellent!

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