Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric News

Azure Dynamics Files for Bankruptcy Protection in Canada

Eric Loveday — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:46:07 +0000

Nissan Brings LEAF Technology to Electric Trucks

Zach McDonald — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:14:41 +0000

Nissan's e-NT400 ATLAS Concept.

Nissan isn't just using its experience with electric vehicle batteries to make consumer cars. At the Tokyo Truck Show this week, Nissan's Light Commercial Vehicles unit is showing off several concepts utilizing the energy storage technology available in the LEAF, including an all-electric truck called the ATLAS e-NT400. Based on the popular ATLAS F24, the zero-emissions e-NT400 concept has a cruising range of 100 kilometers, utilizing a similar powertrain to the one found in the LEAF.

The Secret to a Great Electric Car? How It Brakes

Brad Berman — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:25:14 +0000

What's the secret sauce of electric cars? In a speed-obsessed society, you’d expect it to be acceleration—which most EVs have in spades. But actually the thing that distinguishes one electric car from one another is not how quickly it gets going, but the way it stops. In recent weeks, I’ve reached out to engineers from BMW, Ford, Toyota, Honda and Tesla to learn about each company’s approach to regenerative braking—the system that provides the feel or flavor of their electric cars.

Minnesota EV Group Hosts Region's First Major Electric Car Expo

Jukka Kukkonen — Thu, 19 May 2011 05:33:28 +0000

Minnesota has not been known as a hotbed of EV activity in the past, but things are starting to move forward here. A fairly new and fast growing public/private partnership, Drive Electric Minnesota, has over 20 organizational/business members including Xcel Energy, GE, and Best Buy, and we are getting more membership requests every month. When it comes to nationwide EV availability, the Midwest is considered to be a second-tier market, but even if we won’t be the first ones to get the vehicles, we are working hard to move things in the right direction to make Minnesota “EV ready.”

Wanted: Fair Costs for Electric Car Home Charger Installations

Josie Garthwaite — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:45:32 +0000

As a new generation of plug-in vehicles rolls off the assembly line, a new cadre of consumers has entered the market for home charging equipment. Federal and state incentives are designed to help offset installation costs, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. But some customers and electric vehicle advocates worry that the very programs meant to help lower costs for charger installations in practice have set the stage for price gouging.

When it comes to home charging equipment, said Marc Geller, co-founder of the nonprofit advocacy group Plug In America, "It's important for people to know all their options available." Nissan and General Motors are offering an option for consumers to buy the equipment and electrical work through their respective partners, AeroVironment and SPX. This "one-stop shop" approach is simple and low-hassle for consumers, but the convenience can add cost, said Geller.

A Tale of Two Electric Vehicles Getting Made

Brad Berman — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:44:21 +0000

December is the month that EV enthusiasts have been waiting for. The Chevy Volt is rolling off production lines at G.M.’s Detroit-Hamtramck facility, and the first Nissan LEAF will be delivered tomorrow in San Francisco. As we anticipate the reports coming from new EV owners, we're also waiting to see if the next wave of automakers—from Fisker and Coda to Smart and Mitsubishi—execute their plans with as much exuberance and professionalism as G.M. and Nissan.

That’s what makes Ford’s announcement this week about the first production versions of the Transit Connect Electric delivery van seem, well, a bit sad. Check out the two videos below—one of the Chevy Volt getting made, and one of the Ford Transit Connect EV being assembled. The contrast between the two shows just how far and fast the electric car movement has moved in recent years.

Ford EVs Connect With Portland, GM Swings and Misses

John Gartner — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:02:25 +0000

In advance of the launch of the Ford Transit Connect Electric van and other EVs, Ford started a 14-city promotional tour in Portland, Oregon on Monday. Ford will sell limited numbers of Transit Connects later this year and electric Ford Focus' later in 2011. Ford is working with utilities, local government, and Portland State University to ensure that the city is ready with a charging infrastructure when the EVs arrive.

Portland is a natural fit for emissions-free driving. The mentality of its citizens is as a green as the ubiquitous coniferous trees, and the adoption of hybrids is among the highest in the nation. Ford and Nissan recognize the opportunity to sell plug-in vehicles in the Northwest and have spent time and money marketing their vehicles in Oregon and Washington. Earlier this year, truck company Navistar chose Portland to unveil its eStar all-electric truck.

How Do You Compare Different Electric Cars? Whine? Top Speed?

Brad Berman — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:36:00 +0000

Automobile magazine recently spent a day with the Ford Transit Connect Electric, and came away impressed with the all-electric small delivery fan. It’s interesting to see the electric light bulb flash over the head of one mainstream auto reviewer after the next. Each one approaches an electric vehicle expecting the wheels to fall off, but lo and behold, they’re blown away by its “realness.” Don Sherman writes:

"The electric systems are impressively well mannered, performance is commendable, and there's sufficient range to support the intended mission…If there were doubts in your mind about the viability of electric propulsion, chalk up the Transit Connect Electric as one more piece of evidence in favor of the powertrain of the future."

I think we’re all trying to get a handle on the best way to review these cars—and to present the most useful points of comparison. The Automobile review of the Transit Connect featured two comparison criteria that could make sense—but only to some extent.

Ford Expands UK Testing of All-Electric Delivery Vehicle

Zaher Karp — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:51:09 +0000

Ford's European electric vehicle took a leap forward this week when the company expanded plans to test a fleet of its electric Transit Connect delivery vehicles. The Transit Connect Electric demonstration fleet is developed with funding assistance from the UK Government's "Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator" program.

For a few months, we’ve known about Ford’s electrification plans in Europe—the introduction of the Transit Connect Electric light commercial vehicle in 2011; the release of the Ford Focus Electric in 2012; and hybrid and plug-in hybrid version of its C-Max vehicle—a kind of small versatile family wagon—in 2013.

Strong Economic Case for Electric Light Commercial Vehicles

Brad Berman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:44:39 +0000

While enthusiastic electric car fans are jumping at the chance to be among the first owners of the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt, business owners considering an electric commercial vehicle might pause to crunch out the dollars and cents of going electric. On that account, light-duty trucks, like Ford’s Transit Connect Electric, make even more sense for companies than for individual drivers, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Frost researchers believe the annual market for electric-drive vans and light-duty trucks in Europe and North America will jump from nearly zero today to almost 200,000 by 2016. As opposed to individual plug-in car purchases, which might be motivated by a combination of economics and personal conviction to get off oil, commercial purchasers will move forward primarily based on a compelling business case: