Ford Focus Electric and Plug-In OEMs Prepping For Two-way Comms with the Grid

Ford and seven other OEMs to test new technology.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 24, 2014



2015 Ford Focus Electric – $29,995 to start not including any factory rebates, Federal Tax Credits or State incentives while allowing owners a 76 mile all-electric range and an 84 mph top speed.



For the 2015 MY, Ford now includes four new colors include Magnetic Metallic, Tectonic Metallic, Performance Blue Metallic and Ruby Red Tinted Clearcoat, a new rear lamps, tailgate, lower rear fascia and spoiler design,

all-new center floor console, instrument panel center stack and climate controls and Wi-Fi connectivity.



Based on the fuel-powered Focus, Focus Electric’s all-electric powertrain and single-speed automatic transmission deliver a smooth acceleration, a common trait of a BEV, with a top speed of 84 mph.



The car features eco-friendly materials including bio-foam seat cushions and recycled fabrics. The REPREVE seat fabric is made from 100 percent recycled content.



Other standard features on Focus Electric for North America include 15-spoke, 17-inch alloys, a 60/40 split rear seat, proximity key with push-button start, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony Audio with nine speakers, Sirius Satellite Radio with Sirius Traffic and TravelLink HD Radio, and a voice-activated navigation system.



Driver connect technologies include battery state of charge (SoC), distance to charge point, the corresponding range budget and expected range margin. The system’s MyView feature allows drivers to access even more data including the electrical demands of vehicle accessories such as A/C which negatively impacts range.

2015 Ford Electric Interior





Somewhat attractive interior spaces.

The driver oriented instrument cluster display in the Focus Electric uses blue butterflies to represent surplus range – the more butterflies there are, the greater the range.



SYNC with MyFord Touch map-based navigation system is standard. After adding a destination into the navigation system, the vehicle will alert a driver of the need to adjust travel plans due to power availability.



Remote Access



Focus Electric owners in North America will be able to maintain contact with the car anywhere they have a mobile phone or Internet access using the Ford-developed MyFord Mobile app and website. This will allow owners to:

• Receive instant vehicle status information


• Perform key functions remotely


• Monitor the car’s state of charge and current range


• Get alerts when the vehicle requires charging or has finished charging


• Remotely program charge settings and download vehicle data for analysis

Owners can also pre-condition the car to a desired temperature while the vehicle is charging from the grid. When the driver is ready to go, the cabin awaits at the desired temperature, saving battery energy and helping to get the most out of every charge.



Users can also locate the vehicle with GPS, remotely start the vehicle, and remotely lock and unlock the car doors.



Charging the Focus Electric



The new Focus Electric offers a unique value charging feature to help owners in the United States charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates and in some cases, lowering the cost of ownership.

2015 Ford Focus Electric





Unique LED ring surrounding the charge port provides indication of both charging and SoC.

When the connector is plugged into the vehicle’s charge port, it activates an LED light ring that loops around the port twice in acknowledgement of connectivity. The light ring then illuminates in quadrants as the vehicle charges. Flashing quadrants represent charge in progress and solidly lit quadrants show charge completion. In the unlikely event of a fault, the entire ring will flash. When the entire ring is solidly lit, the vehicle is fully charged.



Ford recommends customers purchase a Level2 240-volt charging station to achieve faster charging times.



Focus Electric Drivetrain and Battery



Focus Electric is a FWD BEV powered by a 143 hp and 184 lb-ft (maximum at 0 RPM) all-electric Permanent-magnet traction motor mated to a single speed AT.



The battery itself is a 23 kWh Li-Ion unit with LG Chem chemistry and manufactured by the Piston Automotive Group.



Thermal management of the Li-Ion battery is critical to the long term viability of the Focus Electric. The system heats or cools the coolant before pumping it through the battery cooling system. This regulates temperature throughout the system against external conditions. On hot days, chilled liquid absorbs heat from the batteries, dispersing it through a radiator before pumping it through the chiller again. On cold days, heated liquid warms the batteries, gradually bringing the system’s temperature to a level that allows it to efficiently accept charge energy and provide enough discharge power for expected vehicle performance.

2015 Ford Focus Electric Rear Hatch





The large battery under the rear hatch floor requires this lifted floor design. Not a fan.

Two-way Electrical Charging Communication Initiative



Ford is joining seven other OEMs for a first-ever test of technology that will allow utility companies to communicate with PHEVs and BEVs via the cloud to help manage energy use and improve the efficiency of the power grid.



The automakers are collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Sumitomo Electric to develop a two-way communication platform that would allow PHEV/BEVs from all participating manufacturers to work with power grids in parallel vs. simply drawing off until programmed to start and stop or when fully charged. The system will enable the utilities to send a message directly to the vehicle requesting that it stop charging temporarily as a way of helping a grid that may be on the verge of overload. The program has buildt in stop gaps allowing customers to refuse the power cutoff request if desired.



Here is how it is designed to work. An owner would plug the car in and set a time for departure. If the system detects that pausing the charge would disrupt driver needs it would not stop charging. Otherwise, the charge could be paused temporarily to help preserve grid stability.



Utility companies will offer financial incentives to customers who make their PHEVs/BEVs available to the grid, similar to utilities offering customers discounts for allowing their home A/C to run intermittently during times of high demand. Customers who opt-in to the program can charge their cars at a location of their choice and have the ability to ignore the utility’s request to stop charging.



Utilities and regional transmission organizations participating in the software and hardware development and demonstration include DTE Energy Company, Duke Energy, PJM Interconnection LLC, CenterPoint Energy Inc., Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern Company, Northeast Utilities, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric, Commonwealth Edison, TVA, Manitoba Hydro, Austin Energy, ConEdison and CPS Energy.

2014 Ford Focus Electric Pricing





How about $15,995 at retail + TTL after Ford rebates and Federal and State incentives?

Ford will be working side by side with Honda, BMW, Chrysler, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and Toyota on the vehicle design side of the program.

Ford Focus Electric and Plug-In OEMs Prepping For Two-way Comms with the Grid