Ford Focus Electric Becomes Museum Piece

Over a century ago, Ford became the first manufacturer in the world to provide the masses with the latest wonder of that time: the automobile. Now, the car maker is preparing to enter a market which will clearly redefine personal transportation. And, even if, this time, it is not the first manufacturer to prepare to sell an EV, the moment is of historical importance to Ford.

Later this year the car maker will launch the electric version of the Focus, so the people in charge with the brand's heritage are hard at work trying to mark the event in the proper way. And what best tool to tell future generations about the exciting times of today than to bag and ship one such car to a museum?

Back in 2010, Ford handed two Focus Electric prototypes to be used in the Jay Leno Show as part of the Green Car Challenge. Now, one of those two cars will make it into the history books, as Ford donated one to the Petersen Automotive Museum.

“This donation signifies Ford’s transition from a prototype version of Focus Electric to the real production vehicle,” said Matt VanDyke, Ford director of U.S. Marketing and Communications.

“We still believe the Focus Electric prototype can continue to create awareness and excitement for electric vehicles like it did during the Green Car Challenge. The Petersen Automotive Museum is the perfect place for the car to do that.”

The car to be featured as a permanent piece of the Alternative Power exhibit is no ordinary electric Focus and it will not be the one we'll see on the roads later in 2011. The model is based on the five-door production Focus ST, has been tuned to perform on a racetrack and features Recaro racing seats, a full roll cage, five-point racing harness and an Electric Orange paint scheme.