Safe Sustainability: Ford Focus Electric Receives Five-Star Rating from NHTSA

While developing the new Ford Focus Electric, the car's engineers wanted to make sure that its safety technology was just as advanced as its sustainable drivetrain. It appears they have achieved that goal, as the all-electric vehicle recently received a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in the New Car Assessment Program from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To earn an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA, vehicles must excel in the organization's frontal, side-impact and rollover crash tests. The 2013 Ford Focus Electric delivered superior crash protection in the stringent evaluations with the help of advanced front and side airbags that deploy according to the size and position of individual occupants. Meanwhile, the model's standard AdvanceTrac electronic stability control helps prevent accidents in the first place by using real-time data on road conditions and driver response to adjust engine power and apply the anti-lock brake system when needed. 

"The Focus Electric saves its owners from throwing a lot of money toward gas, but Ford recognizes that you can't put a price on safety, so it made crash protection just as much of a priority as efficiency when designing the model," said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Stoneham Ford, a Greater Boston Ford dealer. "Focus Electric drivers get the peace of mind of helping to create a healthier environment, but they can also take comfort in knowing that they are watching out for the well-being of the precious cargo that they're taking along for the ride."

Rated at a best-in-class 110 MPGe in the city, the Ford Focus Electric is powered by a 107-kW electric motor and a liquid-cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack. A full charge takes just three to four hours with the recommended Leviton 240-volt home charging station, and drivers can go up to 76 miles between charges, which is the longest range in the segment.

Ford announced this month that its number of EV Certified dealerships will be expanding to more than 900 this spring, up from 200 this past November. That new amount represents about a third of all Ford dealers in the United States, and the automaker will have an EV Certified dealer in all 50 states within the same timeframe.

"As a dealership that earned EV certification early on in the process, we can definitively say that Ford has gone to great lengths to ensure there is a highly supportive infrastructure in place for Focus Electric owners," added Melkonian. "From the faster home charging times to the MyFord Mobile smartphone app that lets you monitor and schedule time at public charging stations, the Focus Electric is going to play a big role in generating a broader acceptance of electric vehicles in the market."

Stoneham Ford Earns Google Recognition

STONEHAM, Mass. -- Greater Boston Ford dealer Stoneham Ford joined an elite group of American businesses in June with the announcement that the company has been designated a Favorite Place by Google. Fewer than 250,000 businesses in the United States, across all industries, received this designation.

"We put a lot of effort into building a website that offers comprehensive information on all the latest Ford cars, trucks and SUVs," said Stoneham Ford General Manager Alan Melkonian. "We are so proud to receive this recognition, because it means that local Ford shoppers view our website as the user-friendly destination to research all things Ford."

California-based Google selected its Favorite Place recipients by analyzing web traffic from December 1, 2009, to February 28, 2010. Websites that generated the most traffic received the recognition, which was presented in June to less than 1% of all businesses in the United States.

Along with the recognition, Stoneham Ford received a new way to connect with customers. A window sticker sent by Google identifies the Massachusetts Ford dealer as a Favorite Place and includes a bar code. People who scan the bar code with a smart phone get instant access to a mobile web page that includes reviews and information about the business.

Visitors to Stoneham Ford's website can get a complete multimedia profile of each new Ford model in stock. Included in this profile are videos of Ford trucks, cars and SUVs in action, model photos from several angles, detailed specs and even complete vehicle brochure that can be downloaded directly from the site.

Stoneham Ford's goal is to be there for car buyers at the earliest stage of the buying process. According to in-depth research released last October from Capgemini, a worldwide consulting firm, 90% of all automotive shoppers use the internet to research vehicles. To get the attention of these consumers, dealer websites must be easy to use and provide pertinent inventory and financing information. This emphasis on user-friendliness has helped Stoneham Ford drive sales.

"We devoted a section of our site to the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and we have become a top dealer for Boston Ford Fusion models," Melkonian said. "While our goal is for people who visit our site to become satisfied Stoneham Ford customers, we are happy to know that people turn to us when they want to know more about Ford cars and trucks."