USA Today reports that Ford are planning to green its brand by marketing the Ford Focus electric in the US as a 'solar powered car' by teaming up with SunPower to sell a solar p/v home energy system through Ford dealerships.
The solar photovoltaic panels will not charge the Focus directly but will of course be mounted on the roof of the owner's house, in order to provide sufficient energy equivalent to 1,000 miles of driving each month.
To generate enough solar power for an electric-car offset, the system will have about 147 square feet of roof panels — about 11 panels that are 4 feet by 2 feet. The 2.5-kilowatt system will produce about 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year.
Installation will be by Best Buy's Geek Squad at a total cost of about US$10,000. The price of the Focus has not been announced yet although sales are due to commence later this year in the US in selected states.
Here in the UK many G-Wiz and several Leaf owners have a similar set up and are already driving 'emission free for free'.
Here in the UK many G-Wiz and several Leaf owners have a similar set up and are already driving 'emission free for free'.
