Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today unveiled the all-electric version of its Transit Connect at the Chicago Auto Show and confirmed the zero-emissions small van will be in fleet operators’ hands later this year.
The Transit Connect Electric is intended for commercial fleets that travel
predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in
urban and suburban environments and a central location for daily
recharging. The vehicle has a targeted range of up to 80 miles on a
full charge. It will accelerate at a similar rate as the gas-powered
Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 75 mph.
Owners will have the option of recharging the Transit Connect Electric
with either a standard 120V outlet or preferably a 240V charge station
installed at the user’s base of operations for optimal recharging in
six to eight hours. A transportable cord that works with both types of
outlets will be available for recharging at both kinds of locations.
In addition to the Transit Connect Electric, Ford plans to bring three more electrified vehicles to market by 2012–the Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012 and a next-generation hybrid in 2012.
“We’re excited about the potential for our electrified vehicles,” said Praveen Cherian, program manager for the Transit Connect Electric, who added that today’s electric vehicle buyers are similar to early adopters of hybrid vehicles. “People were a little hesitant about hybrid technology at first, but now they accept it and embrace it. We expect the same will be true of electric vehicles.”
Oak Park, Mich.-based Azure Dynamics will provide its proprietary Force Drive battery electric powertrain for the Transit Connect Electric. Azure Dynamics develops hybrid electric and electric drive technology for shuttle buses and commercial trucks, such as the Balance™ Hybrid Electric, which is built on the Ford E-450 cutaway and strip chassis for the medium-duty commercial vehicle segment.
Johnson Controls-Saft was selected by Azure Dynamics as the supplier for lithium-ion battery cells and battery packs for the Transit Connect Electric. Azure Dynamics and Ford both currently use Johnson Controls-Saft battery technology for other products.
Ford is also making conversion kits for standard Transit Connects to be operated as compressed natural gas (CNG) taxis.
In Related News…
London taxi-riders may soon find themselves in an electric vehicle.
Eco City Vehicles (ECV) and the London licensed taxi, this week announced the launch of an all-electric prototype of the London-licensed Mercedes Vito taxi (Vito).
Called the Mercedes Electric eVito Taxi (eVito), the lithium-ion battery vehicle was developed by a consortium of companies including ECV’s manufacturing partner Penso, Mercedes Benz UK and Zytec Automotive.
One80 Ltd provides the vehicles patented rear-wheel steering technology for the eVito as well as the Vito taxi, enabling the vehicle to meet the Public Carriage Office requirement for a minimum turning circle of 25 feet.
Later this year, the consortium plans to conduct controlled trials to confirm eVito’s suitability for road usage as a London licensed taxi.
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