The first Ford Transit Connect Electrics are being shipped to customers across North America and the United Kingdom as part of a demonstration project.
The commercial vans are equipped with Azure Dynamics Force Drive battery electric powertrain and have been assembled at AM General in Livonia, Michigan. They are expected to reach the market 13months after the collaboration between Ford and Azure was first announced in October, 2009.
All initial units have designated customers with the Azure Dynamics’ LEAD customer programme including eight companies that will take delivery of their first units in 2010 with the remainder of the orders to be filled in 2011. Among the companies involved are AT&T; Johnson Controls Inc; Southern California Edison; Toronto Atmospheric Fund EV300; Xcel Energy; and the New York Power Authority.Â
Initial production of the vehicles began in the fourth quarter of 2010 with full production slated for April, 2011.
