At the
New York auto show, I had a chance to drive the all-electric
Ford Transit Connect small van. While it was only around a few Manhattan city blocks, I did learn some things.
The Transit Connect has a 40-kw electric motor under the hood (54 hp equivalent), powered by a 24-kwh lithium-ion battery pack that sits between the rear frame rails so it doesn't compromise cargo space. Ford claims an 80-mile range for the electric Transit Connect. Most electric cars these days are listed at 100 miles, but the company says 80 miles accounts for having a 1,000-lb. payload in the back. A full charge is expected to take eight hours on a 220-volt outlet.
Like most electric vehicles, the Transit Connect is smooth, quiet, and torquey. Lisa Drake, chief engineer for the electric Transit Connect, says it was designed to drive as much like a normal car as possible. It does not have regenerative brakes, but does replenish the batteries a little when the driver lifts off the accelerator. This regen can be increased by moving the shift lever to a lower gear position. The shift lever has no effect on actual gearing, as the
Transit Connect EV, like most EVs, has only a single-speed gearbox.
The battery-powered Transit Connect is expected to go on sale to delivery fleets and contractors this fall. It seems like an ideal vehicle for predetermined delivery routes that bring the car back to base for recharging. For retail sales, Ford will begin selling a battery-powered version of the new Focus sedan next year.
—Eric Evarts
See our complete 2010 New York Auto Show coverage.
