In 2008, it was the Ford Fusion Hybrid at Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida; and now its Ford Focus Electric for  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race. Ford America prepares to create history by launching the first all-electric pace car for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

The public can have a first look at Ford Focus on April 25, before it goes to the race tracks of the Sprint Cup Richmond 400. On April 28, it will be accompanied by former two-time Australian V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose in his #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, at the Richmond International Raceway in Virginia .

Ford claims that the Ford Focus Electric is America’s most economical five-seat car, operating entirely on battery power, with a miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) figures of 105 MPGe, that  equates to 2.2 litres per 100km. Though this betters the 99 MPGe (2.4 L/100km) figure for the Nissan Leaf, the Leaf has a greater range. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, it is 122km for the Ford and 175km for the Nissan (on the New European Driving Cycle).

Despite this, Ford highlights the Focus’ advantages with greater passenger room, more power and a shorter charge time that’s almost half that of the Leaf. Ford says, their research shows that more than 60 percent Race fans will purchase their car than general showroom buyers. Although Ford has not announced their plans to launch the car in Australia, Ford Focus Electric will be available in 19 markets across the US by the end of 2012.

via caradvice