New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Connect Electric completes Ford’s Show trio
Ford has confirmed that the Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric will be lining up alongside a selection of Euro 5 Transits and the all-new Ranger pick-up to complete an impressive array of new products at the Commercial Vehicle Show.
Due to go on sale in the UK in June, the long-wheelbase Connect Electric gets its power from a 28kWh lithium-ion battery pack sited under the load floor. Load space remains at 3.8m3, but payload drops to 465kg.
Charging time using a standard 240V domestic supply is between six and eight hours. Maximum speed is 75mph and it has a range of up to 80 miles, dependent on usage and traffic conditions.
The Connects leave Ford’s Turkish production plant minus engine and transmission. Azure then takes over and fits its tried and tested proprietary Force Drive electric drivetrain (see video below). Then it’s simply a matter of charging it up and it’s ready to run.
Up-fitting of the Force Drive powertrain for the European market will be carried out by Lotus Lightweight Structures with production scheduled to begin in June 2011 at its facility in Worcester.
Azure Dynamics has recently set up its European headquarters in Stevenage, just to the north east of London. It will be responsible for all European operations including engineering and program coordination, manufacturing activities, sales and marketing and service support. The facility has 446m2 of office space and a workshop area complete with key diagnostic equipment for vehicles and electric powertrain components.
The first European Connect Electric customer to sign on the dotted line is Norwegian Post. It is taking delivery of 20 with an option to order more in the future.
Manufacturer Quick Link
Latest Features
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