Ford sold a pure electric version of its popular Focus hatchback from 2012 through 2018. The Focus Electric was one of the pioneering EVs of the modern electric vehicle era. In the early days of electric vehicles, automakers were introducing electric cars with futuristic although polarizing designs. Ford showed that it could use an attractive mainstream design for an EV.

The Focus Electric used a 143-horsepower electric motor to power the small, sporty hatch. The Ford EV is especially quick in city driving and during bursts of power from about 30 miles per hour to 50 mph.

In 2018, Ford decided to discontinue nearly all of its cars because SUVs had become massively popular. With that decision, the company ended production of the Focus Electric, shifting its EV ambitions to the all-electric crossover Ford Mustang Mach-E, released in 2021. No longer offered as a new model in the Ford showroom, the Focus Electric is now sought-after in the used market as an affordable, fun, all-electric commuter car.

From 2012 through 2016, the Focus Electric used a 23 kWh battery pack to provide an estimated range of 76 miles. In the early production years, Ford did not offer a DC quick charger with the battery-powered Focus. The onboard 6.6 kW charger could add 20 to 25 or so miles per hour of charging so drivers could do a full recharge in four to five hours.

Major changes occured in 2017 when Ford upped the Focus EV’s battery size to 33.5 kWh. That was enough to boost range to 115 miles on a charge. Moreover, from 2017, Ford added an optional 50 kilowatt quick-charge port that can bring the battery from empty to 80% in a half-hour pit stop. So in 30 minutes, Focus Electric drivers could be back on the road with nearly another 100 miles of range.

Recharging the Focus Electric’s 33.5 kWh battery at home is the best way to experience the convenience of owning an electric vehicle. Taking advantage of its 6.6 kW charging speed, owners can use a smart, cost effective charger, such as the JuiceBox 32, providing the max charging speed for the Focus Electric.