Dave, it's been widely reported that the Focus EV pack is list priced in Ford's own parts catalog for $10,508.38. So where you're getting $17,000 from I do not know.
i got it from the narrowly reported area of the internet called "ford.com"
Michael; check my blog. the Focus EV pack is $17,355 and that is battery pack ONLY. charger is like $4800 and on and on. (this only lends to my statement that people will ignore "options" that are not really options
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2013&m=Ford&mo=Focus#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
check subheading under electrical, choose "electric" for model
oops; charger is $4662.23. it has been discounted!! nothing to fear, prices are dropping! (it could be a bad memory too
)
"oversimplification?" with the details we have to work with and you expect details?
ok. sure but that requires a LOT of "filling in the blanks"
For AZ people; its pretty much a foregone conclusion they will be one of the few that will use the standard warranty to get one replacement battery. From what I see, the real replacement time that still lends usability will vary from about 20,000 to maybe as much as 40,000 miles. Problem is the Battery Warranty Program (BWP) CANNOT be initiated at any time which is one the the major advantages of the BRP (battery Replacement Program)
So if AZ'ers get a BWP at say 30,000 miles and miss the option to get the 2nd one before their 60,000 mile clock runs out, they can immediately get a BRP for a modest $100 a month. This BRP will have as little as 3 years and could be as much as 5 years of additional tech behind it.
So what if (and this is NOT really that big an if) Nissan comes out with a new chemistry that is expected to retain 90% capacity after 60,000 miles in Phoenix in 3 years? (or 4 years or maybe 2!) That would mean those people getting the BRP to replace their BWP would now be able to get off the "Battery Merry go round"
Add to that; Nissan now has a product they can stand behind. A Product that someone is willing to take a 4 year loan out to buy because they know in 4 years, they will still have most of their capacity? So
then its a lease, buy, or "rent to buy" program!
So now you have people who took the lease program and other than paying $100 a month for a few years OR MORE LIKELY LESS, they now have something worth buying.
OR we go to the flipside. Due to overwhelming demand; Nissan starts selling packs in 6 months. Unfortunately, its not what they want to sell, but the customer wants it and they want it because they dont know what Nissan knows and Nissan simply cannot convince them that they simply need to wait and buy the "right" product.
In order to address what will be a firestorm of controversy; Nissan gives a 50% discount to all early adopters (because they know anyone buying the battery will be very unhappy in a few years) and its only $3,000 out of pocket for a battery that gets you at least 278 GIDs or more...281 on good days.
So which bandaid will do the best job of stopping the bleeding? I see the purchase option as being more expensive and NOT fixing anything. am i "that" wrong here?
all in all, i think the lease program really does best cover the needs of most of the people here. what we fail to understand is that we think we have to start paying the $100 right away (which is wrong) we will get the same battery we have now (which "could" be wrong unless you are first in line next Jan)
the lease program "could" allow you to get a battery that may cycle twice the time your current battery does. that is a possibility. People say their LEAF will have no resale value but what if you sell your LEAF with the BRP and it still has 90% of its capacity left? will the price be that bad??
wont be good because by then we are likely to have 150 BEVs running around all over the place for $20,000.