The first Ford dealers have been officially certified to sell the company's first all-electric car - the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. The 67 dealers are in California, New York and New Jersey -markets that account for a large percentage of electrified vehicle sales and will begin seeing the Focus Electric later this spring. By the end of the year, Focus Electric will be available nationwide.
Certification means the dealerships have met the automaker's guidelines for dealers selling electric vehicles - including installation of at least two onsite charging stations and participation in highly specialized training in the field of electric vehicles.
"The amount of hard work and resources dealers put into becoming certified really is a testament to how excited they are, how excited customers are and how excited we are about electric vehicles, starting with Focus Electric," said David Gutman, Ford's field operations manager.
With more motor power, standard features, passenger room and faster charging time than Nissan Leaf, dealers have been eager to start selling Focus Electric.
Focus Electric has been certified by the EPA to offer 110 MPGe in the city and 105 MPGe combined, beating Nissan Leaf by 6 MPGe.
Focus Electric also offers a faster charging system that allows for a full recharge in nearly half the time of Nissan Leaf thanks to a larger on-board charger. A unique value charging feature powered by Microsoft is designed to help owners charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates, which makes charging Focus Electric less costly than charging Nissan Leaf.
Production of the Focus Electric began in December 2011 at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. More information about MAP can be found here.
After first being available in California, New York and New Jersey, Focus Electric will be available in 19 markets across the U.S. by summer's end, nationwide by the end of the year.
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