Ford's electric Focus that will roll out for sale in early 2011 was made by a company named Magna. It's purely electric - and goes 100 miles without recharging, while the Chevy Volt goes 40 miles on electric before going on gas. The Focus uses no gas reserve. Ford is also introducing a small electric work van next year that was also made by an outside supplier.
Magna plans to sell the system used on the Focus to others, part of their deal with Ford, which lowers Ford's cost. Using Magna has allowed Ford to bring the car to market quicker.
The pedestrian safety issues are addressed in this video. The Ford representative minimizes the issue and says "We'll be prepared, when the vehicle goes into production, to address that issue."
They need to be held to this, since these cars, as well as hybrids, present an enormous mobility and safety issue to legally blind pedestrians and others.
Related: That Blissfully Quiet Electric Car Might Just Kill You
H.R. 5734 Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, introduced April 9, 2008
National Federation of Blind information page on Quiet Cars (a plethora of information, including interviews, sample legislation, safety task force reports, resolutions, etc.)
This video shows one type of audible warning that has been developed.
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