Ford Focus Electric becomes first EV to pace a NASCAR race: Motoramic Dash

Welcome to the Motoramic Dash, a quick read of what's happening in the auto industry today:

The all-electric version of the Ford Focus will become the first EV to pace a NASCAR race when it handles the parade chores for the Richmond 400 Sprint Cup race on April 28. Given that pace cars in NASCAR never go more than 55 mph, and that the electric Focus has a range of roughly 75 miles, the Focus EV should be up to the task -- unless Juan Pablo Montoya mistakes it for a jet dryer.

Given that the Focus Electric starts at $39,995 before tax credits, and that Ford's limiting sales to California, New Jersey, and New York through at least June, putting the Focus EV in front of NASCAR fans isn't so much about selling battery-powered cars. Not that the market's so big at the moment anyway: the Nissan Leaf, now on sale throughout the country at a lower price than the Focus Electric, has sold 1,733 copies through March.

Other news to get charged up with this morning: