It took six years for Ford Motor Co. to sell 8,700 electric Focus small cars. It takes just three days to sell as many gasoline-powered F-Series pickup trucks.

Americans may not be lining up to buy electric cars, but that hasn’t stopped Ford from pushing ahead with plans to spend $11 billion to develop more compelling battery-powered vehicles. Ford’s rising commitment underscores a willingness among big car companies to experiment with the types of sexy electric cars that give Tesla Inc. its appeal.

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