The Ford Transit Connect Electric, a pure electric-powered version of the 2010 North American Truck of Year will go into production in late 2010. This pure EV is set to enter fleet service before the end of the year, and will enter full production in early 2011, according to Ford.
Ford’s first pure EV will look and drive very much like the Transit Connect already on the road today in North America. Ford and Azure Dynamics have teamed up to develop an all-new electric drivetrain that will make this the greenest truck on the market – and will become the first true mass-market pure EV to go on sale in North America.
“Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford’s future.”
Ford says that the target range of the Transit Connect Electric will be 80 miles – with a top speed of 75 mph. The vehicle will be rechargeable in six to eight hours with either a 120V or a 240V outlet. Ford will provide a special cord that will function in both outlet types. The re-charge point is located on the passenger-side rear wheel, much like a gas tank cover, and accesses the liquid-cooled 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.
Ford says the Transit Connect Electric will have similar acceleration times to that of the gas-powered version, making it a very capable real-world performer. The Transit Connect Electric will feature 135 cubic feet of cargo volume, 59.1 inches of internal height, 47.8 inches of width between wheel wells and 72.6 inches of length in the storage section.
Because the Transit Connect is built on the same C-platform that underpins the European Focus, the Transit Connect enjoys car-like ride and maneuverability, something that Ford is banking on to help make this an attractive vehicle for businesses operating in congested urban environments.
Leftlane will be bringing live photos from the upcoming Chicago Auto Show, so be sure to check back for our extensive coverage of the show.
02/09, 1:43 PM
posted by:
saabaru1
Anybody know the rear entry door dimensions of this vehicle?
02/09, 1:48 PM
posted by:
A4
I wish my car had a 220v plug that doubles as a racing stripe on it.
02/09, 1:51 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
They need to put a Diesel/Hybrid set-up on this baby, and then we got something…..
02/09, 2:01 PM
posted by:
Borat
I don’t believe there is a need for hybrid, but diesel would make it a real contender. I haven’t seen one on the roads of burbs, but I saw few of them in NYC tooling around with various business adds painted on. Speed, range and acceleration are not qualities needed in the city.
02/09, 2:06 PM
posted by:
04focus
Isn’t this based on the US Focus?
02/09, 2:10 PM
posted by:
saabaru1
04- I think it’s based on the last gen euro focus.
Yarddog- Why would you want to burn fuel yourself when you can let someone else do the fuel burning for you?
Borat- I have been seeing a few around my neck of the woods, also rolling billboards as you describe.
02/09, 2:46 PM
posted by:
B-real
Man, I hate pure electrics. I agree that a diesel would be much better.
02/09, 3:13 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I really want one of the passenger ones for a daily driver/commuter coffin/grocery getter. Maybe I’m finally losing it, but I find the Connect kind of cool. Or maybe I just have fantasies of putting a full sized beer fridge in the back.
02/09, 3:32 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, if you under 6 ft. you can put bed in there and… ah forget it you are married for to long, you ain’t getting any.
02/09, 3:33 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Hats off to Ford — now even para/quadra-plegics can have green transportation.
02/09, 3:37 PM
posted by:
The Realist
This is the most insulting, ugly, pointless vehicle to be sold by a Detroit automaker since the Flex.
We asked for the Euro Focus…not the Euro Focus with a hideous van as a body (we also didn’t ask for a Euro Focus that has a hideous exterior, mediocre interior, and tainted by American “engineers” like we will see with the 2012.
Someone should really find out what’s in the blunts they are passing at Ford headquarters if they think the mediocre appliances they are making are what people want.
02/09, 3:41 PM
posted by:
Road_AMS
@ The Realist – This appliance is just that, an appliance. It’s to be used by small businesses, not the general consumer. Is this what you came to the table with? Tell me who you get your weed from….
02/09, 5:06 PM
posted by:
icahrus
@ The Realist and other misinformed individuals, this vehicle has no relationship to the Ford Focus. This is Ford’s commercial level electric vehicle
02/09, 5:33 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I saw one of these at our local ford dealer(not the hybrid, the gas version), and the compartments you can get for the back are way frikin cool!
02/09, 6:15 PM
posted by:
saabaru1
icahrus@ The Realist and other misinformed individuals, this vehicle has no relationship to the Ford Focus. This is Ford’s commercial level electric vehicle
You wrong.
02/09, 7:52 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Thie Electric Transit connect is going to be a hit of a vehicle. and about time and american car company sold Electric vans to the Utility companies. So say what you want the Unrealist this van is already a worldwide success in the ICE form alone!
02/09, 11:31 PM
posted by:
FB_1362026147
@The Realist – Face it; you are a true troll. And a complete idiot.
This is based on the Focus chassis, they just swapped the IRS for a live axle. That’s how it gets a 1600lb payload. That is a higher than a GMC Sierra 4×4 reg. cab. It uses the tried and true 2.0 and 4spd auto from the Focus, for good reason. The powertrain has been proven over millions of miles in real world driving.
There is no other vehicle sold in the USA that is like this. And yes it is an appliance. Ford is not saying anything other than that. It does what they say it should. Haul a lot of stuff in the back, reduce fleet costs, and when needed can be converted to about anything it needs to be.
When I go to lunch I try to take one when I can (I work at a Ford dealer). It’s gets looks everywhere you go. With that, it’s a great device for advertising. Plenty of space and great for vehicle wraps.
Good job Ford!
02/10, 9:20 AM
posted by:
saabaru1
FB- Any chance you are willing to do me a HUGE favor and measure the dimensions of the rear gate? I need to know if I can fit a specific piece of equipment in the TC, and Ford doesn’t give the measurements online. Thanks if you can, Mike
02/10, 1:40 PM
posted by:
Borat
@Mark, are you having plans to show some news today? For crying out loud, you are south of the snow storm!! Is LLN having Italian strike? Or you guys started working for Government?
02/10, 1:59 PM
posted by:
antiunioncapitialist
Put a diesel-electric hybird drivetrain in the puppy and I would buy one for personal transport. Just add a few extra windows and plusher seats.
02/10, 6:50 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
The Transit Connect is already an Awesome seller for Ford Motor and making it electric is only going to put ma halo on this product for not just the environmentalist but in a technology moving forward direction. Good Job Ford keep it up!
02/10, 6:52 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I Love the way it sounds whisper quiet no noise pollution.
02/11, 9:06 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
The real threat to these plug in vehicles is the fact that Iraq will be producing more oil than Saudi Arabia next year. Crude oil could flood the market and 30-40 dollar crude will be reality…killing plug in demand. Iraq is currently at 2 million bbls a day, and will be at 10 million a day next year.
02/11, 9:06 PM
posted by:
The Realist
“And yes it is an appliance.”
Every Ford is a throw-away appliance…but hey someone needs to build rental cars.
And this Transient Connect is the stupidest, most reckless business decision Ford has made since they decided to pour all of their borrowed money into the platform that has failed more times than you can count.
Alan Mulally is a moron. He hasn’t the first clue how to run a business…all he can do is manipulate the numbers for a while to please the book keepers.
He has no plan (as witnessed by ALL of Ford’s recent bonehead business decisions, and lackluster, mediocre products), and is on a mission to run Ford into the ground (which…with the recent product changes…wouldn’t be a bad thing).