HANOVER GERMANY – Ford has initiated its electric vehicles plan for Europe, with the debut of its Transit Connect Electric at the 2010 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany. Ford plans to introduce, for European customers, five full electric or hybrid vehicles across its light commercial vehicle, C and CD and ranges, by 2013.

The Transit Connect Electric is the first of these five vehicles to be introduced in Europe. A zero-emission, pure electric-powered version of the award-winning Transit Connect light commercial vehicle, it will go on sale in North America later this year and is due to become available in Europe during 2011.

The Electric derivative is based on a long wheelbase version of the successful Transit Connect, which was launched in 2003 in Europe and was introduced to the US in 2010. It will have a range of up to 130km on a full charge and promises a top speed of 120km/h.

Transit Connect Electric builds on Ford's relationship with its electric vehicles partner, Azure Dynamics, as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.

“We recognise an increasing interest in electrified vehicles and have an aggressive strategy to bring these vehicles to the marketplace,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of Global Electrification. “Our work with Azure to create a pure electric battery Transit Connect vehicle will allow us to offer our commercial customers an additional option for environmentally advanced transportation.”

The Transit Connect Electric is built on Ford’s global commercial vehicle platform as part of the company’s ONE Ford global product vision. It is the first of five electrified vehicles from Ford that will become available in Europe by 2013:
Transit Connect battery electric van in 2011
Ford Focus battery electric passenger car in 2012
Ford C-MAX-based Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) in 2013,
One further HEV vehicle to be confirmed for 2013.