The all-new 2012 Ford Focus is slated to shake up the compact car segment when it debuts early next year with some of the best fuel-efficiency numbers in its class, but it’s already clear there will be at least one similarly sized vehicle that will boast better mpg ratings: The 2012 Ford Focus Electric. Packing an advanced liquid-cooled battery pack, the Focus Electric is expected to deliver up to 100 miles of all-electric, emissions-free driving on just a single charge.
Those are impressive specs that should have customers flocking to Ford dealerships when the Focus Electric debuts late next year, and the Blue Oval is hard at work preparing for that high demand. For example, Ford engineers recently unveiled a unique, Ford-only convenience cord that will work with both 120V and 240V charging solutions.
“Focus Electric owners can look forward to having a ‘refueling’ device they can call their own,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Program and Engineering. “Since Focus Electric owners are likely to handle one of the charge cords two or more times everyday, we’re providing a distinctive and durable device for their plugging-in experience.”
The result is a durable device that’s been ergonomically tested by a wide range of potential customers, from petite adult females to larger adult males, aged 21 to 61. The handle blends a tactile toughness with a high-tech look, featuring a matte-finished blue-rubber surface that allows for a comfortable grip, and a hard-plastic plug-head shield that helps protect the device’s electronics.
“We tried handles inspired by hockey sticks and curling irons, but found that a grip diameter similar to a tennis racket handle worked best for the widest range of users,” said Cary Diehl, Ford human factors engineer. “More than most automotive devices, Focus Electric’s cord set connector has given us an opportunity to think outside the box and find inspiration from non-automotive consumer goods.”
Of course, the plug setup not only looks good, it works well, too. That’s courtesy of a comprehensive set of testing procedures implemented by Ford partner Yazaki, the company that is supplying the units. Yazaki engineers ran the connector through 10,000 cycles of plugging and unplugging, with an added torture test thrown in every thousand cycles. At that time, testers actually submerged the plug into a solution of sandy salt water, dropped it repeatedly and even drove over it with a car tire to ensure its real-world durability.
“We put the cord set connector through more abuse than it’s ever likely to endure in the hands of Focus Electric owners,” said Katie Pecoraro, project engineer. “We want our customers to have peace of mind knowing that their means of recharging the vehicle will be well designed and durable—just like the vehicle itself.”
You must log in to post a comment.