The Ford Focus Electric is being touted as the automaker’s first production electric car. However, the Blue Oval’s first foray into battery-powered cars was a concept that debuted 44 years ago. When it was unveiled at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show, the Ford Comuta was expected to the first of many commercially available EVs.
The Comuta measured just 6 feet 8 inches long and was powered by four 12-volt lead-acid batteries. It was capable of reaching a top speed of 40 miles per hour and it had a range of about 40 miles.
Ford of Britain developed the Comuta concept, and execs were convinced that similar electric microcars would be hitting road by the mid-1970s.
“We expect electric cars to be commercially feasible within the next 10 years, although we believe their uses will be primarily as city-center delivery vans and suburban shopping cars,” said Ford of Britain’s assistant managing director, Leonard Crossland.
Ford built two just Comutas, and one is currently on display at the Science Museum in London. Although its tiny dimensions and boxy styling may not have been too appealing in the late 1960s, it was clearly ahead of its time.
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