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Azure Transit Connect Electric
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] ProductionProduction 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]  Transit Connect Electric frontal view  Transit Connect Electric rear view SpecificationsAccording 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] Markets and salesThe 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] Passenger versionIn 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] See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ford Transit Connect Electric.
References
External linksInformation related to Azure Transit Connect Electric |
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