While Ford’s first electric car is still more than a year away, the automaker announced today where the first cars will be available.
The Ford EV, which is based off the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus, will launch in:
- Atlanta
- Austin, Texas
- Boston
- Chicago
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- New York City
- Orlando, Fla.
- Phoenix
- Tucson, Ariz.
- Portland, Ore.
- Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
- Richmond, Va.
- Seattle, Wash.
- Washington, D.C.
This list is slightly more comprehensive than the list of launch markets for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and 2011 Nissan Leaf. Of course, the Ford EV is nearly a year behind its competitors; when the Focus EV goes on sale in late 2011, the Leaf will already be available nationwide and the Volt will have added several new markets.
Ford selected its starter markets based on several criteria, including commuting patterns, hybrid market share, and utility and government commitment to EV infrastructure. Ford will consider making the EV available in more markets after the launch.
The Focus EV will have similar capabilities as the Nissan Leaf. Both will be capable of a 100-mile range on a full charge. Ford has yet to announce any pricing for the electric car.
In addition to the Focus EV, Ford will introduce a Transit Connect electric van, two next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrids and a plug-in hybrid by 2012.
