Ford is collaborating with Azure Dynamics Corporation to fit out the Transit Connect Electric with Azure’s Force Drive battery electric powertrain and Johnson Controls-Saft’s lithium-ion battery technology.
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.
Ford Transit Connect Electric goes into production in late 2010. It is aimed at commercial fleets that travel short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments.
The vehicle, which will accelerate at a similar rate as the petrol-powered Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 75mph, has a targeted range of up to 80 miles on a full charge.
Owners will have the option of recharging the vehicle with either a standard 120V outlet or a 240V charge station installed at the user’s base of operations for 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.
The vehicle’s charge port is located above the passenger-side rear wheel well. The onboard liquid-cooled 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is charged by connecting the charge port.
Inside the vehicle, an onboard charger converts the AC power from the electric grid to DC power to charge the battery pack.
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