Posts Tagged ‘Transit Connect’
Transit Connect Goes Electric in 2010
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Ford announced this week that it will be working with Azure Dynamics Corporation to build and distribute a pure battery electric Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will be integrating its Force Drive battery electric drive train into the existing Transit Connect for commercial fleet and retail use.
“We recognize an increasing interest in electrified vehicles and have an aggressive strategy to bring these vehicles to the marketplace,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of global electrification. “Our work with Azure to create a pure electric battery Transit Connect vehicle will allow us to offer our commercial customers an additional option for environmentally friendly transportation.”
The battery-powered Transit Connect will be one of four electric vehicles that Ford will make available over the next three years, including:
- Battery electric Transit Connect van in 2010
- Battery electric Ford Focus passenger car in 2011
- Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
- Plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012
“The opportunity to work with Ford on the Transit Connect BEV is a breakthrough advancement for us at Azure and for the light commercial vehicle market,” said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. “For Azure, it’s an important evolution of our existing relationship with Ford. From an industry standpoint, we are seeing delivery fleet and utility vehicle operator’s move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Transit Connect BEV will come to market at an ideal time to meet this growing trend.”
The Transit Connect BEV will offer fleet owners the opportunity to eliminate the use of gasoline and help to lower operating costs. The vehicle will be branded with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure’s Force Drive logo.
Photo courtesy of crazytales562 under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Azure Dynamics Corporation, Force Drive, Ford, Transit Connect, Transit Connect BEV
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Florist’s Business Blossoms with Transit Connect
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Michigan-based Mancuso Florists has weighed in on the benefits of the fuel-efficient Ford Transit Connect. The compact van has helped the business cut down on its fuel costs while maximizing its deliveries.
“It costs us about $30 to fill the gas tank in the Transit Connect,” said Frank Mancuso, proprietor of Mancuso Florists in St. Clair Shores, Mich. “It costs us about $70 to fill the tank in one of our full-size vans. A full tank lasts around the same time in either vehicle, so delivery costs are significantly reduced by using the Transit Connect.”
The Transit Connect is specifically engineered to meet the needs of small businesses, according to Ford. It is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial platform, with a 2.0L Duratec I-4 engine and an automatic overdrive transaxle. The van delivers 22 city, 25 highway EPA-rated miles per gallon, and provides 135.3 cubic feet of cargo space with a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds.
The customizable nature of the Transit connect allows it to be specially fitted for the unique needs of any business, including a flower shop. The split rear cargo doors and low load floor make both loading and deliveries significantly easier.
“While reduced delivery costs are critical, Transit Connect offers other key advantages for floral retailers,” said Bruce Wright, editor of Flowers Magazine. “Small overall dimensions make Transit Connect much more maneuverable than traditional full-size vans, key in urban markets. It’s easier to handle and much simpler to park, reducing driver stress.”
The Transit Connect also presents the right image for a florist. “A full-size van is almost invisible, because they’re everywhere,” observed Mancuso. “But all kinds of people notice our Transit Connect. Our drivers get so many inquiries about the vehicle, we hand out cards with information about it. Transit Connect serves as a ‘rolling billboard’ for our business.”
Photo courtesy of Irargerich under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Duratec I-4, EPA, Flowers Magazine, Ford, Mancuso Florists, Transit Connect
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Ford Transit Connect Popular with Small Businesses
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Early sales of Ford’s new specialty fleet vehicle, the Transit Connect, indicate that small business owners are already big fans. The initial shipments of the Transit Connect have been quickly snapped up at dealerships nationwide.
Ford reported that on a national basis, an average Transit Connect sells within 8 days of arriving on a dealer’s lot; significantly faster than the current turnover rate for most vehicles.
The Transit Connect is a unique vehicle that combines the cargo capacities of a full-size pickup truck with the profile of a van and the fuel economy of a medium-sized car: 22 city/25 highway miles per gallon. It boasts a low enough clearance to clear any bridge or parking deck, and fits into a normal sized city parking space. These features combined with its affordable price make the Transit Connect an enticing alternative to more traditional vehicles for small business use.
Ford commercial truck director Len Decula thinks the popularity of the Transit Connect means something more: “We see rising optimism among small business owners and strong demand for arriving Transit Connect vehicles among this group as reflections of an encouraging economic uptick.”
Photo courtesy of crazytales562 under the Creative Commons License .
Tags: fleet, fleet vehicle, Ford, fuel economy, Transit Connect
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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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