Electric Ford Focus on sale now

An all-electric version of the Ford Focus, a vehicle that was Britain’s best-selling new car for 10 years in succession, has gone on sale in America.

Ford claims the electric Focus can be recharged from a standard 240-volt electricity supply in little more than three hours – half the time it takes the Nissan Leaf to replenish its batteries. However, the electric Ford Focus is selling in America for the equivalent of £26,000, which is over £3,000 more expensive than the Leaf.

Both cars are eligible for a federal tax credit worth around £5,000.

The Focus Electric promises to deliver 70-100 miles on a full charge, depending on how the car is driven.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “There is perception that buying an electric car represents a leap of faith, but when the electric Ford Focus eventually makes it to Britain, its advantage will be that with over 9 million examples of the Focus sold in Europe alone it’s a car drivers are familiar with and trust.”