Ford Shows Electric Focus at 2014 Chicago Auto Show

This year’s Chicago Auto Show marked the first time I got to poke around one of Ford’s still rare electric Focus models. These EVs have been on the market since 2011, but haven’t had the same kind of success that the better-known, conceptually superior Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt have had in the last year. Part of that has to do with the Electric Focus’ higher price and another part of that has to do with the Electric Focus’ recalls. Mostly, though, it’s stuff like what you see in the trunk of the little car.

The trunk of the 2014 Ford Focus electric, by the way, looks like this …

… which compares very poorly to the flat, open trunks you get in said Leafs, Volts, Teslas, etc. That might be forgivable if the electric Focus played in the same pond as the $15,000 cheaper Mitusbishi iMiEV, but becomes downright laughable when you consider that Ford’s brass actually thought the electric Focus was going to out-sell the Chevy Volt.

It’s really too bad Ford did such a half-a**ed job on their EV entry, too. Looking beyond the trunk and the utter lack of practicality teased by the car’s hatchback body, the Focus is a dynamically competent, good-looking, and right-sized entry into the ever-more crowded field of electric commuter cars. With Ford’s fan base and dealer network, it really could have been a success. As it is, your EV dollars are definitely best spent elsewhere, and you don’t need a test drive to see that.

Source: Gas 2.

City of Chicago and 350Green announce city-wide Network of EV charging stations, 73 DC fast and 207 Level 2

The City of Chicago has selected 350Green, a developer of electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, to design, build and operate a network of 280 EV charging stations—73 DC Fast and 207 Level 2 charging stations—throughout the Chicago area.

The project is intended to help the City address two of the most vexing challenges facing widespread adoption of EVs: range anxiety and access to a garage for overnight charging. 350Green plans to install and operate its stations in partnership with retail hosts across high-traffic urban shopping centers and other places near where Chicago-area EV drivers live and work.

Chicago is on the cutting edge of national efforts to prepare for electric vehicles. When this project is completed, Chicago will have the most DC quick-charging stations of any city in the country, with only the entire State of California surpassing our station numbers.

—City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

The City of Chicago and its Department of the Environment are helping facilitate the implementation of the project. Much of the early focus around EV infrastructure has been on putting charging stations in the home garages of customers, which benefits only those who have a garage, the partners noted. Since many residents in Chicago do not have access to a garage, this effectively limits the number of people who can participate.

The project is valued at $8.8 million, with public funding of up to $1.9 million. 350Green will fund the remaining $6.9 million.

Source: Green Car Congress