Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Isn't it Ironic? Ex-Hummer builder AM General handling final assembly of Transit Connect Electric]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/isnt-it-ironic-ex-hummer-builder-am-general-handling-final-ass/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/isnt-it-ironic-ex-hummer-builder-am-general-handling-final-ass/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/isnt-it-ironic-ex-hummer-builder-am-general-handling-final-ass/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford and Azure Dynamics unveiled the Transit Connect Electric van earlier this year, Azure announced that the electric drive systems would be installed at a facility in Michigan. Today, Azure let it be known that the installation work will be done by AM General, a company that's best known for producing the military-spec Humvee, at its engineering and product development facility in Livonia, MI.

Ford will be shipping Transit Connect gliders (vehicles without any fuel or powertrain components installed) from its plant in Turkey to the AM General plant. Azure will ship the motors, power electronics and batteries to the plant where AM General will do the final assembly. The first units will be produced late this year with full production ramping up by April of 2011. The Transit Connect Electric will have a range of about 80 miles and be targeted at commercial customers, although Ford will apparently sell the van to any customer who wants one. Official press release available after the jump.


Gallery: Ford Transit Connect Eletric at Chicago Auto Show

Photos by Drew Phillips, Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Azure Dynamics]

Continue reading Isn't it Ironic? Ex-Hummer builder AM General handling final assembly of Transit Connect Electric

Isn't it Ironic? Ex-Hummer builder AM General handling final assembly of Transit Connect Electric originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 ford2011 ford transit connect2011 transit connect2011Ford2011FordTransitConnect2011TransitConnectAM GeneralAmGeneralazure dynamicsAzureDynamicsBEVblue ovalBlueOvalelectric vehicleelectric vehicle productionelectric vehiclesElectricVehicleElectricVehicleProductionElectricVehiclesfordford transit connectFord Transit Connect Electricford transit connect evFordTransitConnectFordTransitConnectElectricFordTransitConnectEvtransittransit connecttransit connect electricTransitConnectTransitConnectElectricWed, 19 May 2010 14:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19483300/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/19/isnt-it-ironic-ex-hummer-builder-am-general-handling-final-ass/19483300/article-detail.xml 19483300 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/transitelectricchicago01opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/transitelectricchicago01opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford to expand electric and hybrid offerings to Europe from 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/geneva-2010-ford-to-expand-electric-and-hybrid-offerings-to-eur/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/geneva-2010-ford-to-expand-electric-and-hybrid-offerings-to-eur/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/geneva-2010-ford-to-expand-electric-and-hybrid-offerings-to-eur/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has big plans for electrification of its fleet over the next decade, and while most of the emphasis has been on North America so far, Europe will be joining in on the party starting in 2011. Nancy Gioia has announced that between 2011 and 2013, Ford of Europe will get five new hybrid and battery electric models added to its lineup. About six to nine months after each of the new models rolls out in North America, they will be introduced in Europe.

Ford's first new battery-powered vehicle, the Transit Connect Electric goes on sale this fall in North America followed by a European launch in the middle of 2011. The battery powered van is just the beginning of Ford's global electrification plan. Read more about it after the jump.


Gallery: Ford Transit Connect Eletric at Chicago Auto Show


Photos by Drew Phillips, Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford to expand electric and hybrid offerings to Europe from 2011

Ford to expand electric and hybrid offerings to Europe from 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford evford ev strategyford evsFord Focus BEVFord Focus EVford fusionford fusion hybridford hybridford hybridsford plug inford plug in hybridford plug-inford transitford transit connectFord Transit Connect Electricford transit connect evFordEvFordEvsFordEvStrategyFordFocusBevFordFocusEvFordFusionFordFusionHybridFordHybridFordHybridsFordPlug-inFordPlugInFordPlugInHybridFordTransitFordTransitConnectFordTransitConnectElectricFordTransitConnectEvplug inplug in hybridplug-inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridPlugInPlugInHybridTue, 02 Mar 2010 13:50:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19375144/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/02/geneva-2010-ford-to-expand-electric-and-hybrid-offerings-to-eur/19375144/article-detail.xml 19375144 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ford-transit-connect-electric-chicago-b630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ford-transit-connect-electric-chicago-b630.jpg <![CDATA[Chicago 2010: Ford Transit Connect Electric uses the "Force"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/chicago-2010-ford-transit-electric-uses-the-force-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/chicago-2010-ford-transit-electric-uses-the-force-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/10/chicago-2010-ford-transit-electric-uses-the-force-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

As expected, Ford brought the latest (and greatest?) incarnations of the Transit Connect utility van to the Chicago Auto Show today. The battery-powered Transit Connect Electric was up first, perhaps because it fits so well into Ford's strategy of vehicle electrification (see also: Focus Electric coming next year, followed by a plug-in hybrid and a next-gen hybrid in 2012). At the very least, this is Ford's first battery-powered vehicle, said product development vice president Derrick Kuzak.

The practical and battery-powered delivery van (the standard version was named the North American Truck of the Year this year) uses a powertrain developed with help from Azure Dynamics Corporation. Called Force Drive, the 55 kW system uses a 28 kWh lithium ion battery pack from Johnson Controls-Saft, has a 75 mile per hour top speed and can drive up to 80 miles on a charge. Will these specs be enough for customers? Praveen Cherian, program manager for the Transit Connect Electric, said in a statement that:
We're excited about the potential for our electrified vehicles. People were a little hesitant about hybrid technology at first, but now they accept it and embrace it. We expect the same will be true of electric vehicles.
The Transit Connect Electric goes on sale in the U.S. later this year, so we'll find out soon. More details after the jump.


Gallery: Ford Transit Connect Eletric at Chicago Auto Show


Photos by Drew Phillips, Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Chicago 2010: Ford Transit Connect Electric uses the "Force"

Chicago 2010: Ford Transit Connect Electric uses the "Force" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicagochicago 2010Chicago Auto ShowChicago2010ChicagoAutoShowfordford transitford transit connectFord Transit Connect Electricford transit connect evFordTransitFordTransitConnectFordTransitConnectElectricFordTransitConnectEvtransit connectTransitConnectWed, 10 Feb 2010 14:22:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19352715/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/10/chicago-2010-ford-transit-electric-uses-the-force-drive/19352715/article-detail.xml 19352715 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/transitelectricchicago01opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/transitelectricchicago01opt.jpg -1 2