The all-new battery electric Ford Focus will be showcased on the new “Jay Leno Show” on ABC. Celebrities will be driving vehicles for the segment the host calls the “Green Car Challenge.” The battery electric vehicle (BEV), which was specially made for the show, features some of the elements of the electric Focus that Ford will begin selling in North America in 2011. “Having our Focus BEV on the show is a great way to demonstrate how fun to drive these cars really can be,” said Lisa Drake, chief engineer, Ford Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle Programs. “Beyond the immediate excitement of driving, it demonstrates that Ford is investing in this technology and that we’re committed to electric vehicles.”
The show kicks off tonight, where the electric Focus will be showcased as celebrities race cleaner vehicles. It took three weeks to build the car and another couple of weeks to properly tune the suspension so it could be driven fast on a racetrack. The Focus built for the show has a split battery pack, with one battery in the cargo area and one underneath the car in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank. Because this Focus is built to race, it is equipped with a roll bar and a five-point harness for the driver. I’m going to make sure to tune in to watch the Focus zoom past the competition!
