Ford Focus FCV (2007) CAR review

Why am I supposed to get excited about a last-generation Focus saloon?

Partly because it has a spec-sheet that reads like a Porsche 911 GT3 RS – ultra-thin lightweight glass, bespoke parts in aluminium and magnesium, carbon fibre tank; in all, 150kgs of weight saving to compensate for the extra weight of the hydrogen fuel cell powering it, which Ford claims is the most energy-efficient propulsion system yet fitted to a car. Three Focus FCVs are currently running around Berlin, where the Clean Energy Partnership has two hydrogen filling stations, which also cater for BMW’s Hydrogen 7s.

Another hydrogen fuel cell car that isn’t for sale.

Well, yes. But like the Honda FCX, the Focus FCV proves that hydrogen makes a great fuel, once we’ve got around the problems of making and supplying the hydrogen, and building the fuel cells at a price people can afford. Ignore all that, and the FCV is a practical vehicle. Its tank carries 4kgs of hydrogen pressurized at 350bar and with energy equivalent to 15 litres of petrol. It takes no longer to refuel than a standard car and will travel 200 miles on a tank, but even with those weight savings it’s heavy at around 1600kgs.