Ford Transit Connect

[vfx]

A thread specifically for the Ford Transit Connect.

The Ford Story: Ford Transit Connect Goes Electric

Many early posts here http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/electric-vehicles/2168-ford-evs-2012-a-2.html?highlight=ford

Ford Transit Connect Electric goes into production in late 2010. It will be well-suited for commercial fleets that travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments and a central location for daily recharging. The vehicle, which will accelerate at a similar rate as the gas-powered Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 75 mph, has a targeted range of up to 80 miles on a full charge.

[YouTube]3r_xfo8vQFU[/youtube]


This excites me because I think Ford will learn a lot because fleets keep great records for feedback and in general I know that putting thousand of drivers in electrics will spread to them wanting EVs at home.

 

[TEG]

This excites me because I think Ford will learn a lot because fleets keep great records for feedback and in general I know that putting thousand of drivers in electrics will spread to them wanting EVs at home.

They had fleets running the RangerEVs for quite a while a decade ago. Those had similar specs for range and top speed.

 

[vfx]

They had fleets running the RangerEVs for quite a while a decade ago. Those had similar specs for range and top speed.

Exactly. The difference going foreword is that now drivers can go out and buy one for their husbands.

 

[ChargeIt!]

... now drivers can go out and buy one for their husbands.

Funny! So ... in that household ... who is wearing the "driver" pants ? And who is going to do the driving ? :tongue:

 

[dpeilow]

TEG does make an excellent point, however.

 

[dpeilow]

First Test: 2010 Ford Transit Connect Electric

So, 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.

 

[ChadS]

They had fleets running the RangerEVs for quite a while a decade ago. Those had similar specs for range and top speed.

Ford was here (Seattle) today with their electric Focus. At least a couple of Ranger EV drivers were in the audience, and one asked if Ford was going to bring the Ranger back.

The answer didn't include the word "no", but basically seemed to boil down to the fact that the Transit Connect would have to be good enough.

 

[Cobos]

Is it just me that find it a bit strange that the Ford seems to be rather inefficient as well as very expensive? A 28kWh battery is a few kW higher than the Leaf and the cost is almost double. Is Ford trying to recoup the cost of the drivetrain in the first 1000 vehicles or something?

Cobos

 

[DaveD]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/business/08electric.html?_r=1

The electric Transit Connect costs $57,400, more than double the price of the gas-powered version even after federal and any state or local incentives for electric vehicles are factored in.

 

[domenick]

Sebastian Blanco has a great post on AutoblogGreen about the Transit Connect and a factory visit. Basically, they're stuffing a 10 year old electric drivetrain tech along with modern batteries and a decent, but low-power charger into gliders and charging the same price as a Model S with half the range. It's a little apples to oranges, I realize, but still, $57,400? That's nuts.

 

[vfx]

That's too bad. I really want this to work. Even more than other public EVs (I'm looking at you, Think).

It sounds like Ford is going through the same schizoprenic masinations that GM went through with the EV1. Make a car that perfectly suits millions of delivery veicle needs and then put an clunky name on it and over price it beyond small business budgets.

By the way. I would call it the "Ant",

A hard working industrious insect that can carry 10 times it's weight and is a non stop machine. I'm done with the "electric" variant names now.

 

[Iz]

Low range, high price point and similar technology to that of the Ford Ranger EV in the 90's. Makes we wonder if they are setting it up to fail or if it is a stepping stone to more state-of-the-art EV offerings from Ford.

 

[nikole95.7]

Ford was here (Seattle) today with their electric Focus. At least a couple of Ranger EV drivers were in the audience, and one asked if Ford was going to bring the Ranger back.

The answer didn't include the word "no", but basically seemed to boil down to the fact that the Transit Connect would have to be good enough.

Is it just me that find it a bit strange that the Ford seems to be rather inefficient as well as very expensive? A 28kWh battery is a few kW higher than the Leaf and the cost is almost double. Is Ford trying to recoup the cost of the drivetrain in the first 1000 vehicles or something?




______________________
how to get free wii games
free wii games

 

[mattjs33]

This electric "Ford" Transit Connect... as far as I understand it, the electric drivetrain is not engineered nor installed by Ford themselves. So why the Ford bashing here? All they do is provide the gliders.

 

[qwk]

This electric "Ford" Transit Connect... as far as I understand it, the electric drivetrain is not engineered nor installed by Ford themselves. So why the Ford bashing here? All they do is provide the gliders.

Probably because Ford CHOOSE that route instead of actually being innovative themselves. If the Big 3 continue to do business the way they have been for so long, they will no longer be in manufacturing cars.

 

[Doug_G]

Probably because Ford CHOOSE that route instead of actually being innovative themselves. If the Big 3 continue to do business the way they have been for so long, they will no longer be in manufacturing cars.

It's actually rare for manufacturers to survive a major transition from one technology to the next. Not a single tube manufacturer survived the switch to transistors. Automobile manufacturers would be wise to pay attention to history.

 

[doug]

Off-topic discussion moved here.

Please stay on topic.

 

[vfx]

Azure Dynamics Gets GSA Order Worth Up To $112 Million CBS Detroit

The Transit Connect Electric will be available through GSA beginning this month for immediate ordering. Northside Ford will administer the sales and fulfillment activities associated with the GSA award. Northside Ford has 18 years of history selling vehicles to the government.