Azure Dynamics Picks Lotus For Transit Connect Construction In Europe
The Oak Park hybrid and electric truck powertrain developer Azure Dynamics Corp. (OTC: AZDDF) has selected Lotus Lightweight Structures, a division of Group Lotus plc, to provide assembly support for the Transit Connect Electric for the European market.
Lotus Lightweight Structures will be responsible for upfitting Azure's patented ForceDrive battery electric powertrain into Ford Transit Connect "gliders" (powerless vehicles without a conventional powertrain or exhaust) at its plant in Worcester, England, beginning in June.
"The European Union and individual governments and private businesses are all working to lead the adoption of electric transportation technology and have shown strong interest in the Transit Connect Electric van," said Scott Harrison, CEO of Azure Dynamics. "With Lotus Lightweight Structures, the project gets another globally renowned automotive company to ensure that final assembly is completed to the exacting standards of our customers."
"As part of Group Lotus plc, Lotus Lightweight Structures, based in Worcester in England, has a well earned reputation as one of the finest high technology automotive organizations in the world," said Stephan Pathenschneider, COO of Lotus Cars. "We have a client base that includes both premier sports car brands and large car companies and of course we manufacture and assemble the pioneering and award winning bonded and extruded aluminium chassis for the Tesla Roadster, the Lotus Evora, the Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige. We not only specialize in manufacturing vehicle structures from lightweight materials including aluminium, composites and lightweight steels, but we also have a high quality and efficient assembly process which will enable us to upfit the Azure Dynamics ForceDrive electric powertrain to the Ford Transit Connect Electric."
Transit Connect Electric is the all-electric version of Ford Motor Co.'s award-winning Transit Connect, first introduced in Europe in 2002. Transit Connect has a successful history in Europe due to its combination of car-like driving dynamics, cargo capacity, accessibility and low operating costs. Transit Connect Electric is an ideal choice for light duty commercial customers who travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go conditions in urban and suburban environments. In addition to its favorable carbon footprint, the Transit Connect Electric is extremely quiet thus lessening noise pollution on crowded streets.
Many European fleet owners have participated in early Transit Connect Electric demonstration programs and expressed enthusiasm for the vehicle's performance and eco characteristics. On a full charge, Transit Connect Electric has a range between 80 and 130 kilometers (50 to 80 miles) depending on auxiliary power usage and drive cycle. It is rechargeable using standard European 220 to 240-volt outlets within six to eight hours. Commercial fleet vehicles generally return to a central location at the end of a driving cycle making them perfect for recharging overnight.
The Lotus Lightweight Structures facility in Worcester, England will receive Transit Connect "gliders" shipped from the Ford manufacturing location in Turkey, and ForceDrive electric components from Azure and its supplier facilities. Lotus Lightweight Structures will provide all final assembly operations for vehicles bound to the European market.
Azure's ForceDrive powertrain has previously been deployed in more than 40 vehicle integrations and has more than 35 million miles of on-the-road experience. Energy stored in the lithium ion battery drives the motor through the electric powertrain's motor controller. The accelerator input from the driver converts DC power supplied by the battery into three precisely timed signals used to drive the motor. The Transit Connect Electric van's appearance is identical to the standard Transit Connect other than the inclusion of the Azure ForceDrive(TM) badge on the rear of the vehicle and information provided on the instrument cluster. Of course, Transit Connect Electric will not have an exhaust pipe as the vehicle produces zero tailpipe emission.
More at www.azuredynamics.com.
