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The Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric is an all-electric van developed as a collaboration between Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company, but Azure was the official manufacturer of record.[2] Due to financial difficulties, production of the electric van was stopped in March 2012, as the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.[3][4]

Azure Dynamics/Ford Transit Connect Electric
Overview
Manufacturer	Azure Dynamics (of record) and Ford Motor Company
Production	2010–2012
Body and chassis
Body style	Van
Powertrain
Transmission	fixed ratio of 8.28:1 [1]
Battery	28 kWh lithium-ion [1]
Range	56 mi (90 km) (EPA)
Dimensions
Curb weight	3,948 lb (1,791 kg) [1]

The official US Environmental Protection Agency all-electric range is 56 mi (90 km) and has a combined city/highway fuel economy of 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (3.8 L/100 km equivalent) based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, with the same 62 mpg-e rating for both city and highway. The energy consumption for combined city/highway was rated at 54 kWh/100 mi.[5]

Production

Production began in December 2010, and full capacity was expected to be reached in April 2011 to produce between 600 and 700 units a year.[6][7] The Transit Connect Electric was produced using a vehicle glider at a Ford Motor Company facility in Kocaeli, Turkey and then shipped to Azure Dynamics U.S. upfitter, AM General in Livonia, Michigan, where the Force Drive™ electric drive train and other components are added to the vehicle. Azure Dynamics partnered with Johnson Controls-Saft to produce the lithium-ion battery pack used in the Transit Connect Electric.[6] The vehicle was badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record.[2][8] The company expected to produce between 600-1000 Transit Connect Electric vehicles during 2011, and planned to double that in 2012.[6][9][10]

Specifications

According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range of up to 80 mi (130 km),[6][7] but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is 56 mi (90 km).[5] The electric van has a speed up to 75 mph (121 km/h).[6][7]

The EPA rated the combined city/highway fuel economy at 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (3.8 L/100 km equivalent) based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, with the same 62 mpg-e rating for both city and highway. The energy consumption for combined city/highway was rated at 54 kW·h/100 mi.[5]

Markets and sales

The first units were delivered to a select group through Azure's "LEAD Customer Program" in the U.S and Canada in December 2010, among the first customers were AT&T, Canada Post, the New York Power Authority and Southern California Edison. The Transit Connect Electric was priced at US$57,400, which more than doubles the price of the gas-powered version even after federal and any state or local incentives for electric vehicles are discounted.[6][7][11]

The Transit Connect Electric was targeted towards the commercial fleet market and other "LEAD" customers included: Johnson Controls,[12] Toronto Atmospheric Fund (FleetWise EV300 Program),[13] Xcel Energy.,[14] and DHL.[15] On March 22, 2011, Ford Motor Company and Azure Dynamics Corporation announced its first European customer order of 20 Transit Connect Electric vehicles by the Norwegian Post.[1] A test fleet of 14 was exported to the United Kingdom for the government's Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator program.[7] As of October 2011 global sales reached 460 units since its introduction in December 2010.[16] Around 500 units were sold before Azure stopped production in March 2012.[17]

Passenger version

In November 2011 Ford and Azure announced the introduction of a passenger wagon version of the Transit Connect Electric. The passenger version would have a liquid-cooled 28 kWh lithium-ion battery from Johnson Controls, that is expected to deliver a range of 55 to 80 mi (89 to 129 km) on a single charge depending on driving conditions and accessory use. The wagon version has a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).[18]

See also

• Ford Focus Electric
• Ford Transit Connect
• Government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles
• List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
• List of production battery electric vehicles
• Plug-in electric vehicle
• Zero-emissions vehicle

References

External links

• Transit Connect Electric official website

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