Azure Dynamics Sells 21 Transit Connect Electrics, Five To WMU
OAK PARK -- The hybrid and electric truck powertrain developer Azure Dynamics Corp. (OTC: AZDDF) Tuesday announced the sale of 21 more Ford Transit Connect Electric small vans, including a five unit sale to Western Michigan University as part of its successful sustainability programs.
"More and more public and private businesses are recognizing the value of fuel efficiency for their fleets, especially when it also helps them meet their environmental goals," said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. "These new orders, including five from Western Michigan University, a leader in energy efficiency innovation, are symbolic of the across-the-board interest we're getting in the Transit Connect Electric product. These new sales bring our global total Transit Connect Electric orders to over 460 units."
Backed by support from the Clean Energy Coalition, WMU placed a five unit Transit Connect Electric order for use in its campus service fleet. WMU already operates 38 conventional Transit Connect vans. WMU has other electric, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles in its service fleet.
WMU's other environmental efforts include a cogeneration plant at its main campus in Kalamazoo, where it manages the entire 150 building campus with a central energy management system, and has been following LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standards for many years. WMU has consistently reduced its energy usage despite significant growth in its total square footage.
"I'm extraordinarily pleased that we're able to add these new Transit Connect Electric vehicles to our fleet and grateful to the Clean Energy Coalition for its role in helping to make this possible," said John M. Dunn, president of WMU. "These vehicles will help us continue to expand our environmental efforts and manage our resources more effectively, not only because of the economic advantage, but because it's the right thing to do for our students, faculty and staff, and the broader communities we serve."
The remaining 16 Transit Connect Electric vans announced today were sold to a variety of customers across the country as well as to a number of Ford commercial truck dealers who will use the vans as customer demonstrators to increase awareness and appreciation of the product. These sales include:
* Consumers Energy of Jackson through Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights (two units)
* Westar Energy through Olathe Ford Lincoln in Olathe, Kan. (two units)
* Metro Motors Ltd. in Port Coquitlam, British Colombia (two units)
* Dayton Power & Light through Beau Townsend Ford in Vandalia, Ohio
* Cleco Power through Hixson Ford Lincoln Alexandria in Alexandria, La.
* Westinghouse through Shults Ford Lincoln in Wexford, Pa.
* Hogan Lovells US LLP through Koons Ford Silver Spring Ford Lincoln in Silver Spring, Md.
* Colony Ford Lincoln Sales, Inc. in Brampton, Ontario
* Interstate Ford in Hartford, Conn.
* Mid-Tenn Ford Trucks in Nashville, Tenn.
* Northside Ford Truck Sales Inc. in Portland, Ore.
* Suburban Ford in Sterling Heights
* Valley Ford Truck Sales in Cleveland, Ohio
Azure Dynamics has agreements with more than 140 Ford commercial truck dealerships in markets across North America, 90 of which support sales and service activities for Transit Connect Electric and in six countries throughout Europe representing 13 dealerships with 57 store locations.
The Transit Connect Electric uses a lithium-ion battery from Johnson Controls to achieve a range of 50 to 80 miles depending on auxiliary usage and drive cycle and is rechargeable using either a 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlet. Commercial vans generally return to a central location at the end of each driving cycle making for easy overnight recharging. Use of the vehicles will also reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
More at www.azuredynamics.com .
