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Feature: Ford Transit Connect Electric

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Aug 14, 2011.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    As countries around the world deal with unstable oil prices and concerns about air pollution, automakers are investing in alternative vehicles to help deal with the problem. At a recent press event in Toronto, Ford primarily focused – no pun intended – on a prototype of the all-electric Focus hatchback that it will bring to market next year.



    But parked outside the venue was a vehicle that’s far more likely to lead the way toward an electrified future. It’s the Transit Connect Electric, a full battery version of the little commercial van that Ford introduced to Canada for 2010. Electric trucks are already in use in many areas of the world, and Canada Post is already running a few of these Transit Connects.


    Full Article
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, Aug 14, 2011
  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    I've said here and other places that for my anticipated use for a second
    vehicle-commuter the all-electric Ford Transit Connect is the near-ideal
    vehicle.

    Unfortunately, no one at Ford, from Corporate to local dealers is
    prepared/willing to discuss when it will become available to non-
    corporate drivers.

    Also from the cited article:

    "Battery vehicles are also ideal for companies that send their
    trucks out on set routes, such as couriers, since they know how many
    kilometres the trucks will have to cover in a day. The trucks also come
    back to a central depot around the same time each night, where they
    can be recharged.     That type of range restriction is still an issue
    with many consumers, who want the convenience of a vehicle that can
    be driven for any distance at any given time, and who don’t yet have
    access to a network of charging stations beyond any that can be
    installed at their homes."

    The underlined portion almost exactly describes the typical use for a
    mostly devoted-to-commuting vehicle.

    It is unfortunate that unlike Nissan, and soon Mitsubishi, Ford doesn't
    trust potential eTC buyers to understand their needs, and the vehicles
    published range. :confused:
     
    #2 Rokeby, Aug 14, 2011
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Well, the Transit Connect gasser was never actually targeted to the general public either. Limiting the eTC market may simply be to control battery and EV component supply for the upcoming Focus EV.
     
    #3 Trollbait, Aug 14, 2011
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It could be the fact that it's well over $50K in price. That's not exactly chump change

    .
     
    #4 hill, Aug 15, 2011
  5. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    At first I was thinking a hybrid Transit Connect would be better, but then I started thinking that if businesses use these as delivery vehicles, they would be sitting at the company loading dock or garage for 20-30 minutes between deliveries and could be "topped off" of charged a little here and there throughout the day, aside from being fully charged over night. This could work out very well for many companies and save a lot of $$$ on gasoline.

    For other businesses, such as tradesmen that own their own Transit Connect, I think a hybrid is needed. In the future, when plugin hybrid costs come down, they could offer a plugin hybrid.
     
    #5 Rybold, Aug 15, 2011
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's a good idea. Charge while you load/unload.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Aug 16, 2011
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