Wayne, Mich. -- I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not — or even much of a surprise — but much of Ford’s focus (pardon the bad pun) on its new electric vehicle is all about range. I suspect that, like most things, all the customizable apps and navigational systems will prove a boon to some and anathema to others. At the very least, all those electronic widgets encourage a commitment to changing one’s driving habits common only to the dedicated enviro-weenie.
For instance, there’s an app (these days, isn’t there always?) for your iPhone, BlackBerry or Android that lets you not only monitor your Focus’s battery level from anywhere (useful from an airport in, say, Spain, to check if you have enough juice to get home when landing back in Canada) but also schedule charging to minimize electricity costs. The same app will find local charging stations (presuming there are any) and even keep a running tab on your CO2 emissions and money saved by motoring so virtuously on electricity.