The first major such operator to order the electric Connect is the Norwegian Post, who will purchase a fleet of 20 vehicles that use the Azure electric drive train. More units are likely to be ordered in the future, considering the fact that the Post is the largest employer in the country and at the same time the largest provider of mail and logistics services.
“Transit Connect Electric was designed and engineered with customers like Norwegian Post in mind,” said Scott Harrison, Azure CEO.
“The ForceDrive powertrain excels under the types of urban driving conditions that the Transit Connect Electric is likely to encounter during postal delivery routes. We’re honoured to have Norwegian Post as our inaugural customer in Europe and are eager to help them achieve the environmental, operational and performance goals that they seek.”
The electric version of the Transit, based on the long wheelbase Connect, is equipped with a battery electric drive train, previously tested on some 40 vehicle integrations, which is capable of giving the vehicle a range of 130 km or 80 miles on a full charge. The top speed of the vehicle is rated at 120 km/h (75 mph).
The Connect is only the first of what is to become a fleet of electric vehicles manufactured by Ford. It will be followed this year by the electric version of the Focus and a few more models in the years to come.
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