WAYNE, MI – Ford announced its Michigan Assembly Plant is starting production of the new 2012 Focus Electric. The company said it expects the vehicle to achieve 100 miles-per-gallon-equivalent (MPGe) in fuel economy performance. In terms of overall performance, the automaker said it expects the five-door hatchback has a top speed of 84 mph. 

The Focus Electric will also have a faster charging system that works with 240-volt outlets. The new system will be capable of charging the vehicle up to 30 miles per charge hour.

The Focus Electric introduces new features and technologies, including a different version of the MyFord Touch driver connect system designed especially for electric vehicles and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile. Ford said the app helps plug-in owners control their vehicles remotely.

The vehicle also features a gauge cluster system, SmartGauge, that includes a system called EcoGuide, which is designed to provide visual indicators that help a driver improve fuel-economy performance. The EcoGuide uses blue butterfly icons to represent the surplus range beyond the driver’s charge point destination. More butterflies means more surplus to get to a final destination.

At the end of each trip, a display screen provides the total distance driven, the number of miles gained through regenerative braking, the energy consumed, and comparative gasoline savings achieved.

As for market availability, a Ford spokesperson said the vehicle will be available to fleets in the second half of 2012.

Ford said the vehicles will first be available in California and the New York/New Jersey areas. Availability of the Focus Electric will expand in 2012 to the remaining 15 launch markets as production ramps up, according to the company.

The 19 launch markets also include Atlanta; Austin and Houston, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

The vehicle offers a number of standard features, including six airbags, electronic traction control, and MyKey for North America. Other standard features for North American customers include 15-spoke 17-inch aluminum wheels, a 60/40 split rear bench seat, push-button start, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sony Audio with nine speakers, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and HD Radio. The vehicle also comes with a free, three-year subscription to SYNC Services.

All Focus gasoline and electric variants to be sold in North America will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich.