by James R. Healey, USA TODAY Story Highlights -Ford says it must keep Focus electric price-competitive -Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt have sliced prices recently due to slow sales -Ford says it didn't eliminate standard features to achieve lower price Ford Motor is slicing $4,000 from the base price of its Focus electric car, beginning with 2014 models that arrive at dealers within a few weeks. That cuts the Focus EV's base price to $35,995 including shipping. Some buyers qualify for a $7,500 credit on federal income taxes, and states often have their own incentives for buying battery cars. Ford says it hasn't taken away any features as part of the cut. The automaker describes the lower-price 2014 Focus electric as "fully contented," and says the cut was important to keep the car competitive. Main electrified rivals have cut prices, and it's apparently not a sign that healthy competition is doing what it's supposed to -- making things cheaper fo…