Smith Electric may add battery power Ford Transit Connect

England's Smith Electric Vehicles already produces a battery-powered version of Ford's big European transit van. It now looks like they may soon add a new one based on the compact Transit Connect. The electric Transit Connect may debut in the UK by the end of 2008 and will likely cost twice as much as the current diesel version. The battery-powered van is expected to have a range of 100 miles and top speed of 70mph. Factoring in operating costs, the electric van should be cheaper than the diesel version after five years of operation. Ford announced plans to bring a gasoline-powered version of the Transit Connect to the U.S. earlier this year at the Chicago Auto Show.

[Source: TheGreenCarWebsite]