The focus of much of the automotive industry today is on the development of hybrid and full electric vehicles. Some of the companies like GM and Nissan are already fielding EVs and hybrids.

Other car brands like Ford are taking a more cautious approach to the EV and hybrid market. Ford has several hybrid vehicles on the road today and plans to offer full electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids over the next few years. The Detroit News reports that Ford exec Sue Cischke outlined Ford's electric vehicle timetable at an electric car even in Washington.

Part of the details that Cischke revealed included the fact that the all-electric Focus that is expected in 2011 will not see significant production numbers until 2012. She said, "We had always said 2011, which we'll still do, but I think you'll see more of the concentrated volume in 2012. Right now, we're getting ready to provide a little bit slower entry."

Cischke declined to offer a specific number of Focus EVs that will this the roads next year, but did hint at the number. She claims that the initial production volume of the Focus EV will be in the middle of the production numbers of the Volt and the Nissan Leaf. GM has already stated that it intends to build in the 10,000 to 15,000 range the first year of the Volt and Nissan plans 20,000 of its Leaf EVs the first year.

Cischke said, "I think it's going to be somewhere between the two when we first start out. Certainly, if it was very popular, we'd be able to get more batteries and do what we need to do."

She also talked a bit about the driving range of the Focus EV stating that the 100-mile driving range number is necessary because the battery packs will degrade over time. That statement hints that in some conditions the range may be higher than 100 miles. Cischke said, "You need to have some margin there."

She also noted that Ford plans on watching how GM and Nissan market their EVs and will learn from their wins and losses. Cischke also noted that if the Focus EV proves to be very popular in the first year, Ford can get more battery packs and increase the production numbers as needed to meet demand.