Ford Focus Electric will connect with AT&T

Being a new breed of vehicles in the Ford stables, the Focus electric, the first passenger electric vehicle to be launched by the American manufacturer, needs more than the capability to use electricity to impress possible buyers. On a segment where the competition is increasing by the week, the Focus needs more high-tech features and gadgets.

Ford has chosen communications giant AT&T as the provider of wireless connectivity for the Focus electric. The service will be provided by AT&T through the MyFord Mobile smartphone app and will be used to allow Focus electric owners to send and receive data, voice commands and control of vehicle settings.

The main features of the app provided by Ford to support the wireless feature of the Focus electric are listed below:

• Locate charging stations and get the destination sent to the vehicle
• Know if the vehicle can reach a specific charge station from its current location with the current charge level
• Journey planning with multiple stops, and determine the likelihood that the car has adequate charge for the full journey
• Alerts if the vehicle isn't charging when it's scheduled to, or if charging stops unexpectedly due to a power outage, plug removal or other event
• Receive alerts during recharge when the vehicle has reached a particular preset charge level or has the ability to reach a particular destination
• Engage remote vehicle preconditioning, using grid power to heat or cool the vehicle interior
• Remotely lock/unlock doors
• GPS system.

"Connecting consumers directly to their electric vehicles in this new and innovative way is going to drive innovative and exciting levels of interaction," said Glenn Lurie, president of emerging devices, resale and partnerships, AT&T.