Ford Releases Info on 2011 Transit Connect EV; Taxi Model With CNG, LPG Options

Ford Releases Info on 2011 Transit Connect EV; Taxi Model With CNG, LPG Options

By John O'Dell February 8, 2010

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

We've seen photos - from back when England's Smith Electric Vehicles was making its own version of an electric-drive Ford Transit Connect, but now that Ford's getting ready to unveil its proprietary electric cargo van, we've not only got photos, we've got data!

We've also got official reiteration of Ford's time-line for the Transit Connect EV (in the market later this year), the Focus EV sedan - 2011 - and a Ford plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and new conventional (not grid-rechargeable) hybrid technology, both coming in 2012.

The official covers come off (or maybe its the covers officially come off ) the Ford Transit Connect EV Tuesday morning at a preview of the Chicago Auto Show, but Ford - looking to generate as much publicity as we're willing to give, and we are willing - this evening has released the accompanying photos as well as a look at the technology packaged inside.

Additionally, the company says it will launch a  taxi adaptation of the popular (in Europe, it hasn't been sold here yet) Transit Connect - that'd be the photo, below, of the one in yellow - that can be converted to clean-burning natural gas or propane.

Here's the info on both.

Transit Connect EV

• It will be built for Ford by Detroit-based electric truck converter and electric drive systems developer Azure Dynamics. On-sale date is "sometime" in 2010 as a 2011 model.
• It will use Azure's proprietary Force Drive battery-electric powertrain, with a 300-volt, liquid-cooled Siemens electric traction motor providing 116.5 lb.-ft. of continuous torque, with peak torque at 173 lb.-ft. Top speed is 75 mph.
• The  28 kilowatt-hour, 192-cell  lithium-ion battery pack is from Johnson Controls-Saft. Ford says it is expected to last at least 10 years or 120,000 miles (the exact wording it that it will "last the life of the vehicle," which is stated on ford's press material as 10 years or 120,000 miles).
• The Azure Dynamics powertrain has a 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
• Range is up to 80 miles on a full charge, and it can be recharged from either 120-volt or 240-volt outlets.
• Ford says the 240-volt charging cord will recharge the batteries in 6-8 hours, We imagine the 110-volt system will take at least 12 and probably closer to 20 hours and that they'll only be sold to customers who want them for emergency backup.
• (We imagine a rapid-charge 360- or 480-volt system also is available, or will be, but Ford hasn't said anything at this point.)
• The target customer is a commercial fleet operator with a central recharging facility, preferably with short-range routes featuring frequent stops and lots of stop-and-go driving (it helps maximize the range as the battery charge is boosted via regenerative braking).
• Cargo space is identical to the gasoline-powered Transit Connect,Ford says: 135 cubic feet with a floor-to-ceiling load height of 59.1 inches and 47.8 inches of load width between the wheel arches.
• Like all Transit Connects, the bodies and running gear for the EV, and the CNG taxi, will be built at Ford's plant in Kocaeli, Turkey. Final assembly and integration of the powertrain and batteries will take place at Azure Dynamics' plant in Michigan.

Transit Connect Taxi

• It will be available later this year as a 2011 model.
• It will use a 136-horsepower, 2.0-liter Ford Duratec gas engine that can be converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) - both popular fuels in taxi fleets because of their lower cost and reduced engine wear.
• The engine will be mated to a Ford four-speed overdrive automatic transmission. the package will deliver 128 lb.-ft. of torque.
• Fuel economy on regular gasoline is estimated at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
• Ford has not provided power, torque of fuel economy information for CNG and LPG versions.
• Conversions can be done without voiding the factory warranty if Ford-provided fuel system calibration specifications are used.
• The taxi package will be sold with the rear seat moved back three inches for enhanced legroom and with additional rear climate control ventilation, sliding second-row windows, vinyl seat upholstery and a wiring package that includes a hole in the roof to allow wiring illuminated roof-top taxi signs.
• Ford says it is collaborating with taxi systems specialist Creative Mobile Technologies on an electronic fare, information and entertainment  system with an 8.4-inch touch-screen screen.

Photos courtesy Ford Motor Co.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.