Ford's first all-electric vehicle will be a van
The 2010 Transit Connect for the North American market.
(Credit: Ford Motor Company)If an electric passenger car is good, an electric people mover is even better. Ford Motor Company on Monday announced plans to bring an all-electric version of the 2010 Transit Connect to the North American market in addition to its 2.0 liter gasoline-powered model.
Based on the global Transit Connect platform, the light commercial vehicle will be built in Turkey and imported to the U.S. It will be outfitted by Smith Electric Vehicles.
Details on the vehicles are few. Ford has not announced the type of battery or its supplier. But if Smith Electric Vehicles' Ampere is similar to what the North American market will receive, the Transit Connect is powered by two 24 kWh lithium ion batteries, giving it a top speed of 70 mph and a range of up to 100 miles. Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Moore said the Ampere was the EU version of the Transit Connect and reiterated that Ford has not announced a battery type or supplier. However, she said the North American version of the all-electric Transit Connect will have a targeted range of approximately 100 miles.
The Transit Connect is a smaller alternative to a full-size cargo van and can be outfitted for package delivery or for passenger use. Sales volumes will initially be small, said Moore. However, Ford is exploring fleet sales to commercial industries and government groups. Moore explained that the best application of these vehicles is for companies that have set routes and return to a central location for recharging overnight.
Ford has not announced pricing on the all-electric Transit Connect. The light commercial vehicle will be Ford's first all-electric move into the North American market, preceding the small electric passenger sedan in 2011.
While this is all possible, you will be adding to the cost far beyond anything you could possibly save by going this route. For emergency services, this is not a good choice.
In the past we've stayed a loyal Ford consumer. This news is very disappointing. Wake up, Ford. You're about to lose another customer.
The USPS would be a prime candidate for the job as they run on limited routes, do a lot of start and stops, and always go back to the same base at end of day. They could easily do a 100 mile limit without issue.
(Criticism aside, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they want to see if there is a market for this ugly thing before investing in a retool or new plants in the U.S.)
Besides, I have issues with all purely electric vehicles:
- Has anyone done a cost benefit analysis of electric vs. gasoline vs. diesel vs. natural gas? Is electric really a good economic choice? (Small "e")
- Is charging a big battery *really* cleaner for the environment? What if your local power plant is fired by coal or oil?
- Although, this appears to be a commercial vehicle -- it's too ugly for normal consumers. But, for apartment dwellers, where are we supposed to plug these things in? Should we buy stock in companies that manufacture 1200' extension cords?
- Has anyone thought about the next crime wave: Stealing electricity from unsuspecting home owners to recharge a car?
All kidding aside, I don't think anyone who is responsible for policy making has considered any of these issues. Just think about the ethanol debacle. Not that I'm an expert, (that's exactly the point), but I thought that ethanol was a good idea until food prices started to rise because of the demand for corn to manufacture ethanol. At least there are alternatives to using corn -- unless the corn lobbyists have their way.
What a time we live in!
100 miles a charge? These things really do gobble gobble gobble the energy - that's why they're built in Turkey!
;-)
http://tinyurl.com/aegxyb
The work that Smith Electric Vehicles are doing in converting these vans into EVs is being done in America, at a US factory, using US labor and with components sourced from US suppliers. The electric version of the Ford TC will therefore be more American than the gasoline version. If you care about US jobs, buy the electric van instead of rubbishing it!
You are mistaken about Smith conversions being done in the US. It is a UK company with a 250K production facility there: http://www.smithelectricvehicles.com/AboutSmith.pdf
Interesting you're telling us this is done in the US, as you're using the phrase, "rubbishing it", which sounds like UK.
The reason Europe is ahead is economic as gas costs so much more. More US companies will be dong this if and when it becomes viable. The competitive marketplace produces the best alternatives. Whether or not Electric is the future is up to debate, not an arbritrary decision made before it's proven or cost effective. That's how we ended with Ethanol.
AlbertSoler,
I've been doing some cost analysis about electric vs gasoline vehicles, but it's difficult to get complete info. What I'm starting to see is that electric does not make economic sense. If it were, they'd be selling millions of vehicles. Operation costs may be 1/3 of gas costs, but then you have to replace expensive batteries which have a limited lifespan. It's an environmental choice, but even that's up for debate. The vehicle has zero emissions but most power plants that produce the power don't. So it mostly moves a limited amount of pollution from urban areas to less populated areas. Other than hydroelectric, renewable power is auxiliary that is used as it is generated. That is to say, as renewable power becomes available, it is already claimed by current power needs. If you start charging your new electric car, you're not using renewable power, as it has already been claimed.
Then what to do with the toxic batteries? It's not a fully thought out concept.
I applaud Tesla - despite the controversies - for actually bringing a US-badged highway-capable car to market. But half a dozen US companies should be there already. The future is electric - embrace it instead of fighting it. The race is on and the US should be in it to win, not carping.
As far as getting our companies to build more factories here....lets cut our corporate tax rates to make that a viable investment. We have the 2nd highest corporation tax in the world...and we expect them to build here????
Here's the link: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm
Just put in 2001 for the year and for Select Vehicle Type put in Electric Vehicles.
<a href="http://www.transitvansforsale.info/">transitvansforsale.info</a>
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by andrei1007
August 29, 2009 4:43 PM PDT
- Travel vans, or luxury vans, are a great way for families, teams, or other groups to travel in comfort. Whether the trip is to a family celebration, a game in the next town, or an outing by a church group, van conversions will get the group there in style. With great entertainment electronics, posh seating, and lavish furnishings, these travel vans make journeys enjoyable.
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