Johnson Controls is already a partner in the creation of the electric van by manufacturing the lithium-ion battery pack fitted by Azure Dynamics into the model. The battery packs give the vehicle a range of 130 km or 80 miles on a full charge.
Otherwise, the Ford Transit Connect Electric looks like any other similar vehicle, being built on the long wheelbase version of the Transit Connect. The model is the first in a line of EVs to be released by Ford in the following years.
It will be followed on the EV segment by the Ford Focus battery electric in 2012, the Ford C-MAX-based Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) in 2013, and an yet undisclosed HEV in 2013.
"Earlier today we finalized an agreement with Johnson Controls on its purchase of 20 Ford Transit Connect Electric vans for its corporate fleet,” said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO.
“So, Johnson Controls becomes both a partner and a customer for the Transit Connect Electric which says more than anything else they could say about their enthusiasm and confidence in the product."
Yesterday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm payed a visit to the Oak Park Azure facility, expressing her support for the model created by several companies: Azure Dynamics, Ford, Johnson Controls and AM General.
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