Southern California Edison Orders 20 Azure-Ford Electric Vans
As leaders of the alternative energy transportation industry gathered in Dearborn, Michigan for the Hybrid Truck Users Forum annual meeting, Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company announced that Southern California Edison is the newest addition to the Ford Transit Connect Electric LEAD customer program with a 20 unit order.
SCE is one of the nation's largest electric utilities and operates one of the world's most sophisticated fleets of alternative powered vehicles. As a LEAD customer, SCE will take delivery of one of the exclusive supply of the Ford Transit Connect Electric vans to be produced in late 2010 and will receive its remaining 19 vans in 2011.
To create the Ford Transit Connect Electric, Azure integrates its Force Drive electric powertrain into the Ford Transit Connect and uses an advanced lithium-ion battery from Johnson Controls-Saft to achieve a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge. The battery 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.
"With its reputation for operating one of the most advanced alternative vehicle fleets in the world, SCE is exactly the type of blue-chip company Azure and Ford hoped to attract to the lead customer program," said Scott Harrison, Azure CEO. "Together, we hold leadership positions in respective disciplines and are fully aligned in the common cause of increasing the usage of sustainable transportation technologies."
Attendees at HTUF will have the opportunity to view and drive the Ford Transit Connect Electric. The vehicle is on display on the show floor and is scheduled to participate in Thursday's "massive, moving" vehicle convoy. It will also take part in the "world's biggest" ride and drive that same day.
"The Transit Connect Electric offers fleet owners the space and convenience of a small commercial van, while at the same time allowing a business to reduce their environmental impact," said Nancy Gioia, director of global electrification, Ford Motor Co. "Through our partnership with Azure Dynamics, the Ford Transit Connect Electric will help businesses like SCE reduce their fleet's use of gasoline and lower their overall emissions."
SCE's service territory includes some 430 cities and communities with a total customer base of 4.9 million residential and business accounts. The Ford Transit Connect Electric vans will be deployed in at least 12 California cities and replace gas powered pick-up trucks in SCE's meter services fleet.
SCE was the first utility to join with Ford Motor Company in a unique partnership aimed at accelerating commercialization of electrified transportation and received the first of the Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid demonstration fleet vehicles in 2007.
The Transit Connect Electric is one of five electrified vehicles Ford will introduce over the next three years. The four other vehicles include the Ford Focus Electric passenger car in 2011, two next generation lithium-ion battery hybrids and a plug-in hybrid in 2012.
For more information on Azure visit www.azuredynamics.com.
(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.
