Ford debuts electric van

Ford used the Chicago Auto Show yesterday to show off its Transit Connect Electric zero-emission small van which it says will be rolled out to fleet operators later this year.

The vehicle has a range of about 125km on a full charge, a top speed of 120km/h and similar acceleration to a conventionally engined Transit. It can be charged via a 240 or 120V outlet over six to eight hours.

According to Ford's statement the vehicle "is intended for commercial fleets that travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments and a central location for daily recharging."

The van uses Azure Dynamics' Force Drive power train and Johnson Controls-Saft’s liquid-cooled 28kWh lithium-ion battery pack