Azure Dynamics/Ford Transit Connect Electric | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer |
Azure Dynamics (of record) and Ford Motor Company |
Production | December 2010 – March 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 | |
Wheelbase | 2,911 mm (114.6 in) [2] |
Curb weight | 1,791 kg (3,948 lb) [1] |
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. [3] 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. [4] [5]
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. [6]
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. [7] [8] 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. [7] The vehicle was badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record. [3] [9] The company expected to produce between 600 and 1000 Transit Connect Electric vehicles during 2011, and planned to double that in 2012. [7] [10] [11]
According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range of up to 80 mi (130 km), [7] [8] but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is 56 mi (90 km). [6] The electric van has a speed up to 75 mph (121 km/h). [7] [8]
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 54.4 kWh/100 mi. [6]
The three-phase AC induction motor is provided by Siemens, operating on a nominal 300 V; it has a rated peak output of 235 N⋅m (173 lbf⋅ft) and continuous output of 52 kW (70 hp) / 158 N⋅m (117 lbf⋅ft). The wheels are driven through a Borg-Warner reduction gearbox with an 8.28:1 ratio. [1] 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. [1]
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. [7] [8] [12]
The Transit Connect Electric was targeted towards the commercial fleet market and other "LEAD" customers included: Johnson Controls, [13] Toronto Atmospheric Fund (FleetWise EV300 Program), [14] Xcel Energy., [15] and DHL. [16] 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. [8] As of October 2011 global sales reached 460 units since its introduction in December 2010. [17] Around 500 units were sold before Azure stopped production in March 2012. [18]
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). [19]