Azure Transit Connect Electric
{{Infobox electric vehicle
| name = Azure Dynamics/Ford Transit Connect Electric
| image = Ford Transit Connect Electric WAS 2011 887.JPG
| manufacturer = Azure Dynamics (of record)
and Ford Motor Company
| aka =
| production = December 2010 – March 2012
| model_years =
| assembly =
| class =
| body_style = Van
| layout =
| platform =
| motor =
| range = {{Convert|56|mi|abbr=on}} (EPA)
| transmission = fixed ratio of 8.28:1
| length =
| width =
| height =
| wheelbase = {{cvt|114.6|in|mm|0|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=http://www.azuredynamics.com/products/documents/SPC500908-B_TransitConnectElectricProductCard.pdf |title=transit connect electric product card |date= |publisher=Azure Dynamics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409051933/http://www.azuredynamics.com/products/documents/SPC500908-B_TransitConnectElectricProductCard.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2011 |url-status=usurped}}
| weight = {{cvt|1791|kg|lb|0}}
| sp = us
}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/09/24/ford-switches-role-with-new-electric-van/?blog_id=146&post_id=3782|title=Ford Works with Manufacturer for New Electric Van|author=Matthew Dolan |work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2010-09-24|accessdate=2011-11-01}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/28/azure-halts-ford-transit-connect-electric-production-ford-still/ |title=Azure halts Ford Transit Connect Electric production, Ford still confident in EV program |first=Sebastian |last= Blanco|publisher=Autoblog Green |date=2012-03-28|accessdate=2012-03-28}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/azure-dynamics-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-transit-connect-electric/ |title=Azure Dynamics files for protection, cancels share offering |first= Danny |last=King|publisher=Autoblog Green|date=2012-03-28|accessdate=2012-03-28}}
The official US Environmental Protection Agency all-electric range is {{convert|56|mi|abbr=on}} and has a combined city/highway fuel economy of 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent ({{convert|62|mpgus|L/100km|abbr=on|disp=out|1}} 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.
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.{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33675|title=Ford and Azure Dynamics Mark Production and Delivery of First Transit Connect Electrics|publisher=Ford Motor Company Press Release|date=2010-12-07|accessdate=2010-12-10|archive-date=2010-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210041409/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33675|url-status=dead}} 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. The vehicle was badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record.{{cite web |url=https://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/ford-azure-dynamics-will-expand-transit-connect-electric-to-eur/ |title=Ford, Azure Dynamics will expand Transit Connect Electric to Europe in 2011 |author=Abuelsamid, Sam |date=May 3, 2010 |work=Autoblog |access-date=21 February 2023}} The company expected to produce between 600 and 1000 Transit Connect Electric vehicles during 2011, and planned to double that in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/cleantech/ford-slowly-starts-down-electric-path-with-ev-van/ |title=Ford Slowly Starts Down Electric Path With EV Van |author=Garthwaite, Josie |date=December 7, 2010 |website=GigaOM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113043110/http://gigaom.com/cleantech/ford-slowly-starts-down-electric-path-with-ev-van/ |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AE3XT20101116 |title=Azure Dynamics looks to expand in medium trucks |date=November 15, 2010 |work=Reuters |access-date=21 February 2023}}
{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right|image1=Transit Connect EV EDTA DC 04 2011 1806.jpg|image2=Transit Connect EV EDTA DC 04 2011 1805.jpg|width=220|caption1=Transit Connect Electric frontal view|caption2=Transit Connect Electric rear view}}
Specifications
According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range of up to {{convert|80|mi|abbr=on}}, but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is {{convert|56|mi|abbr=on}}. The electric van has a speed up to {{convert|75|mph|abbr=on}}.
The EPA rated the combined city/highway fuel economy at 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent ({{convert|62|mpgus|L/100km|abbr=on|disp=out|1}} 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 {{cvt|62|mpge|kWh/100mi|1|disp=out}}.{{Fuel Economy Guide |year=2012 |page=26}}
The three-phase AC induction motor is provided by Siemens, operating on a nominal 300 V; it has a rated peak output of {{cvt|235|Nm}} and continuous output of {{cvt|52|kW}} / {{cvt|158|Nm}}. The wheels are driven through a Borg-Warner reduction gearbox with an 8.28:1 ratio. It draws from a battery with a nominal capacity of 28 kW-hr, composed of 16 modules divided into 192 cells in total. The onboard charger has a maximum rate of 3.3 kW.
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 {{USD|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.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/business/08electric.html?_r=1&hpw|title=Ford Starts to Ship an Electric Delivery Van|work=The New York Times|author=Nick Bunkley|date=2010-12-07|accessdate=2010-12-10}}{{cite news |url=http://jalopnik.com/5147717/2010-ford-transit-connect-officially-first-ford-electric-vehicle |title=2010 Ford Transit Connect Officially First Ford Electric Vehicle |author=Wojdyla, Ben |date=February 9, 2009 |work=Jalopnik |access-date=21 February 2023}}
The Transit Connect Electric was targeted towards the commercial fleet market and other "LEAD" customers included: Johnson Controls,{{cite press release |url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/09/22/497754.html |title=Johnson Controls Inc. Joins Ford Transit Connect Electric Lead Customer Program with 20 unit order |date=September 22, 2010 |publisher=The Auto Channel |access-date=21 February 2023}} Toronto Atmospheric Fund (FleetWise EV300 Program),{{cite press release |url=http://tmx.quotemedia.com/article.php?newsid=36133449&qm_symbol=AZD |title=Azure Dynamics and Ford of Canada Name FleetWise EV300 As Transit Connect Electric LEAD Customer |date=November 30, 2010 |publisher=PR Newswire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305085020/http://web.tmxmoney.com/article.php?newsid=36133449&qm_symbol=AZD |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=dead}} Xcel Energy.,[http://xcelenergy.com/Michigan/Company/Newsroom/Pages/09-08-2010-AzureDynamicstapsXcelEnergy.aspx]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Azure Dynamics taps Xcel Energy for elite Lead Customer program and DHL.{{cite press release |url=http://www.azuredynamics.com/documents/PR_April1_2011.pdf |title=Azure Dynamics Technology to Support DHL’s All ‘Green’ Fleet in Manhattan |date=April 1, 2011 |publisher=Azure Dynamics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022144510/http://azuredynamics.com/documents/PR_April1_2011.pdf |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=usurped}} 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.{{cite press release |url=http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/news/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-norwegian-post-becomes-first-34263 |title=Norwegian Post Becomes First Customer for Ford Transit Connect Electric |publisher=Ford Corporate Media |date=March 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414125513/http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/news/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-norwegian-post-becomes-first-34263 |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |url-status=dead}} A test fleet of 14 was exported to the United Kingdom for the government's Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator program. As of October 2011 global sales reached 460 units since its introduction in December 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/azure-dynamics-announces-21-transit-connect-electric-sales-132516753.html|title=Azure Dynamics Announces 21 Transit Connect Electric Sales|author=Azure Dynamics Corporation|author-link=Azure Dynamics Corporation|work=PR Newswire|date=2011-10-25|accessdate=2011-11-02}} Around 500 units were sold before Azure stopped production in March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1079897_nissan-e-nv200-driving-nissans-prototype-electric-minivan|title=Nissan e-NV200: Driving Nissan's Prototype Electric Minivan |author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=2012-10-17|accessdate=2012-10-19}}
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 {{Convert|55|to|80|mi|abbr=on}} on a single charge depending on driving conditions and accessory use. The wagon version has a top speed of {{convert|75|mph|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/tcew-20111116.html|title=Ford and Azure Dynamics introduce Transit Connect Electric passenger wagon|publisher=Green Car Congress|date=2011-11-16|accessdate=2011-11-17}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100223004732/http://www.azuredynamics.com/products/transit-connect-electric.htm Transit Connect Electric official website]}}
{{Azure Dynamics}}