The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is currently only available in California, New York and New Jersey, but the company plans to release the car to 15 other markets in mid-2012. Photo: Ford
7. Are EVs locally available?
Many automakers introduce their EVs in limited markets before releasing them to the entire country, but the LEAF, MiEV and Volt are currently available in all 50 states.
And remember hearing about those long waiting lists for LEAFs and Volts when the cars initially came out?
You’ll have to check with your local dealership directly, but production capacity has generally caught up with demand, according to Brendan Dolan, community director at Boardwalk Auto Center, a dealership in Redwood City, Calif., that sells both cars.
“Across the board, the insane wait times are a thing of the past,” he says. “If you want a color or option package that isn’t on a dealership’s lot, the wait for a special order is about three months.”
The Ford Focus Electric is currently only available in California, New York and New Jersey, but the company’s website says it plans to release the car to 15 other markets in mid-2012.
Take a Look: Inside the New 2012 Ford Focus Electric
If you’re interested in the plug-in Prius, you can find the EV at participating dealers in 15 launch states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Toyota aims to introduce its plug-in to the other 35 states in 2013.
Honda’s first EV, the all-electric Fit, will be available for lease to approximately 1,100 customers, starting with select markets in California and Oregon in mid-2012 and expanding to East Coast markets in 2013. Honda also plans to release its own plug-in hybrid, but the vehicle is currently in concept form only.
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