Knowing that we, as a populace, are generally slow to adapt over to new technologies, at least the ones that require a completely new thought process to initiate, Ford made sure that the hydrogen fuel cell powered Focus was as conventional as possible.
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| Knowing that brand new technologies take some time to catch on, Ford has made the fuel cell Focus as conventional as possible. (Photo: Ford Motors) |
According to John Wallace, the previous executive director of Ford's now defunct TH!NK group, "This latest technology brings us one step closer to making fuel cell vehicles viable for consumers."
So away I went, skirting past downtown traffic before finding a hardly used stretch of dock access road, perfect for stretching the FCV's legs. The response to throttle input is much like the few electric vehicles I've driven. Torque is immediately on demand, with adequate pull to highway speeds despite the car's 427 kilograms (963 lbs) of added weight when compared to the conventional Focus 4-door sedan. Ford states its top speed is limited to 129 km/h (80 mph), but I didn't have opportunity to test it to this level.
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| While mass production is still a ways off, Ford is aiming for a vehicle that gives the environmental benefits of a fuel cell while maintaining current levels of performance. Ford of Canada President and CEO Alain Batty shown with the Focus FCV. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Regarding the road going experience Wallace added, "While it is still a long road to commercialization, our long-term goal is to provide customers with the environmental benefits of a fuel cell without compromising on today's performance and functionality."
