2015 Ford Focus Electric Price Cut To $29,995, A $6K Drop: Report

It appears that the 2015 Ford Focus Electric will get a major price cut of $6,000, bringing the suggested retail price to $29,995--more in line with the best-selling Nissan Leaf.

The battery-electric Focus is now in its fourth model year, and only about 4,000 have been sold since it first went on sale in December 2011.

That's roughly one-fifteenth the number of Nissan Leaf electric cars that have been sold (over a period one year longer).

2015 Nissan Leaf

Both the Focus Electric and the Leaf are five-door hatchbacks the size of conventional compact cars, with rated ranges between 80 and 85 miles.

The report comes via LeftLaneNews, which sources it to a dealer document it acquired.

The site also reports that Ford will similarly discount any remaining 2014 Focus Electric models now on dealer lots.

Earlier this year, Ford had authorized $6,000 of cash back on all Focus Electrics.

Such actions are often the prelude to a price reduction, as a $5,000 price cut on 2013 models proved to be for the 2014 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car.

This isn't the first time Ford has cut prices on the Focus Electric, either. The 2014 model was $4,000 less than its 2012 and 2013 predecessors, which were launched at $39,995.

2015 Ford Focus Electric

That means the 2015 electric Focus carries a base price fully $10,000 lower than its launch price--fairly unusual among so-called volume models.

But the cut may have been a necessity for Ford to make even the minimum number of sales required under California's zero-emission vehicle sales rules.

Focus Electric sales were 1,738 in 2013, and are running at a rate of about 2,000 so far this year.

The price cut would seem to lessen any chances that the rumored Ford Focus Energi plug-in hybrid model will be launched.

The 2015 Focus lineup, a "mid-cycle refresh" with updated styling and additional features, came and went with little change to the electric version and no added Energi model.

Through September, Ford has sold 15,809 Energi plug-in hybrid models, against only 1,534 Focus Electrics.

2012 Ford Focus Electric launch, New York City, January 2011 - Nancy Gioia

The company has long downplayed its only battery-electric vehicle, stressing its limitations and suggesting that it will be unsuitable for many buyers--startling behavior for any automaker.

That has generated much debate over whether the Focus Electric is a compliance car, built only in minimal numbers to meet regulations, or a genuine effort to sell electric cars beyond states that have adopted California's rules.

This year's price cut may give Ford another chance to show it's serious about selling electric cars, but advocates will likely remain to be convinced.

Source: Green Car Reports

Report: 2015 Ford Focus To Get The Extended Range “Energi” Treatment

Who Is Up For A 2015 Ford Focus Energi?

Now here is a new upcoming plug-in vehicle story that not only makes sense to us, but that we can get behind.

How about a 2015 Ford Focus Energi?

Ford’s Decision To “Electrify” A Second Line In Germany Is Starting To Make A Little More Sense!

The current Ford Focus is in its third generation and is heading into a refreshed look (both inside and out) for 2015.

But according to AutoExpress, part of that updating will include transplanting the “Energi” powertrain found in the C-Max into the Focus.  The source also says the new look Focus will debut in March at the Geneva Auto Show.  (don’t worry we’ll be on location to get the 411 and take some pictures first hand)

Fundamentally this is really a “Ford only needs to decide to sell it” decision, as the Focus shares the same platform (Ford Global C) as the C-Max, and it shares many of the same components/drivetrain.

As a reminder the C-Max Energi is propelled by a 2.0 liter Atkinson cycle four cylinder engine that puts out 188 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque.  More importantly the C-Max has 7.6 kWh of lithium batteries (inconveniently placed in the trunk) that give the car a range of 21 miles.

Why would anyone want another Energi product from Ford?

Price.

The C-Max Energi is currently priced at $32,950, and quite frankly its MSRP has been ignored by Ford, as the rest of the industry have undergone big price cuts (which includes a recent $4,000 price cut to stablemate Ford Fusion Energi down to $34,700).  Why has the C-Max Energi not yet followed in step?  Because the “regular” C-Max Hybrid starts at $28,455.  To move the C-Max Energi down significantly, means moving the regular hybrid down a big step too.

Enter the Focus Energi.

A Focus Energi would not only likely yield slightly more miles of range due to the aerodynamics (perhaps 23 or 24 miles), it would likely also allow Ford to break into the holy grail of plug-in price points – sub $30k.

Imagine a $27,499 Focus Energi with 25 miles of range, or $23,491 after federal credit (it would receive $4,007 under the current program and specs).  How many of those could Ford sell in a year?  A lot more than the 1,738copies of the $35,170 Focus Electrics that’s for sure.

Source: Inside EV's