Leviton and Ford Receive UL Certification for Focus Electric Home Charging Station

Vehicle charger compatible with all industry safety standards

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Oct 10, 2011, 10:00 ET

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leviton, a leading global manufacturer of electrical devices, and Ford Motor Company today announced the new Ford Electric Vehicle (EV) Home Charging Station has achieved UL certification for UL 2231, UL 2251 and UL 2594. The new Level 2 EV charging device, designed exclusively for Ford, is also compatible with all additional industry safety standards and recommended practices, including SAE J1772™ and NEC 625.

"We are excited to partner with Ford to give Focus Electric owners an industry leading, easy-to-use vehicle charger that provides the safety features for which Leviton products are known," said Mike Mattei, Vice President and General Manager for Leviton's Commercial and Industrial Division. "Ford and Leviton have both built reputations based on safety and quality, which is why achieving UL certification for this home device is so important, as it offers customers a solution they can't find elsewhere."

The Ford Electric Vehicle Home Charging Station provides up to 32 amps at 240 volts AC (7.7 kW output) – fully charging a Ford Focus Electric's battery in a little over three hours, more than four times faster than the standard portable charger. The device's energy-efficient design – the enclosure is made from nearly 60 percent recycled materials – features a low-energy standby power design, contributing to a 50 to 80 percent reduced carbon footprint.

Offering an industry leading 10-year limited warranty, Leviton and Ford designed the home device with the customer's safety in mind. A ground monitor circuit and built-in communication verifies proper connection before charging can commence. The device's "Auto-Restart" feature enables charging to restart following a minor fault, thereby reducing the chance of being stranded with an undercharged battery. With a weatherproof NEMA Type 4 enclosure, the device is safe for both indoor and outdoor use – "non-permanent" plug-in installation is ideal for indoor applications, while a "hard-wired" conversion kit is available for outdoor locations.

"Charging is one of the most important components of owning an electric vehicle, so it was crucial to develop a charging station that made ownership easier and more affordable for Focus Electric owners," said Mike Tinskey, Assoc. Director for Ford's Global Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. "Through our partnership with Leviton, we utilized our collective electrical expertise to specifically design the EV Home Charging Station to meet stringent automotive quality, product development and testing requirements that will allow Focus Electric owners to charge with ease."

The Ford EV Home Charging Station including standard installation, retailing for $1,499, features an ADA compliant, simple one-button user interface. Installation of the device's wall mount is impermanent, making relocation easy, while the included 18-foot long "wrap-around" charging cable offers maximum convenience.

The home station is now available through select Ford dealerships and Best Buy stores to support the upcoming launch of the all-electric Ford Focus.

About Leviton

Leviton is a global leader in electrical wiring devices, network and data center connectivity solutions and lighting energy management systems. A member of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), Leviton was founded at the turn of the 20th century, and has grown to become a preeminent leader in the industry. Today Leviton's product portfolio consists of more than 25,000 devices and systems used in homes, businesses and industry. Nine out of ten homes throughout North America use products made by Leviton and builders, electrical contractors and other industry professionals rank Leviton products #1 in brand preference. Leviton products are the smart choice for smart professionals. To request more information about Leviton's Evr-Green portfolio, please visit http://www.evrgreeninfo.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About Ford Focus Electric

The Focus Electric is a gasoline-free version of Ford's popular small car and the flagship of the company's growing fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Focus Electric is capable of fully recharging in just over three hours at home using its specially designed wall-mounted 240-volt charge station. With its special Value Charging feature, Focus Electric helps owners in the U.S. charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates and lower the cost of ownership. Built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., production of the Focus Electric is powered in part by one of the largest solar energy generator systems in the state.

SOURCE Leviton