Posts Tagged ‘IDEA’
Ford Wants to Electrify Your Fleet
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
The marketplace for the next generation of fleet vans is about to get pretty crowded. As you may have seen in one of our recent postings, upstart automaker Bright Automotive introduced the IDEA, an all-electric delivery van that promises to get the equivalent of 100 mpg on 50-mile trips.
This announcement came on the heels of Ford’s announcement back in February, that the auto giant would be producing an Electric-Powered Commercial Van of their own.
The pure battery electric-powered light commercial vehicle referred to as the Transit Connect light commercial vehicle with battery electric power is Ford’s response to a growing number of commercial vehicle fleet clients who are turning to efficient and cleaner alternatives as they renew their vehicles.
While Bright Automotive’s IDEA won’t be available until 2013, the Transit Connect with battery electric power is the first of Ford’s new electric vehicle plan to bring battery-powered vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to market.
Ford is working with Smith Electric Vehicles, a company based in the U.K. that has been converting vehicles to battery electric power since 1920 and the Transit Connect is already available in Europe.
As a fleet manager, reduced operation and maintenance costs over the long haul may just be part of the value of making the shift to an electric powered vehicle as the government is introducing federal and regional programs that offer incentives for companies to electrify their fleets.
We want to know what your plans are. Do you think your next fleet upgrade will go electric?
Check out the complete article on Ford’s new Transit Connect here.
Tags: Bright Automotive, electric powered, Ford, hybrids, IDEA, Smith Electric Vehicles, Transit Connect
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A Big IDEA
Friday, May 1st, 2009
The changes in the auto industry are becoming more and more evident everyday and your fleet could be on the forefront of innovation that could be a real game changer for automakers and the oil industry.
Last week, Bright Automotive, a start up company based in Indiana unveiled the IDEA, a plug-in hybrid electric van that can get a 100-miles per gallon and they are looking to businesses and government agencies to be their initial customers.
Bright has plans to produce 50,000 vehicles a year beginning in 2013. CEO John Waters, who created the battery pack for General Motor’s first electric car, is targeting fleets because of the large numbers of vehicles bought at one time.
Bright Automotive is just one of the many start up companies challenging the more established auto makers with the kind of technology that will reduce emissions and provide millions of dollars in savings on gas each year.
Though no price is available for the IDEA, production is set to begin in 2012 and be ready for distribution the following year.
In short, the future will be here sooner than you think and some of these high mileage vehicles may make you think twice about purchasing new vehicles for your fleet until newer options are made available and are affordable as well.
To learn more about Bright Automotive and a look at the IDEA click here.
Tags: Bright Automotive, fleet, General Motors, hybrid, IDEA
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