From Humvees to EVs: AM General to handle final assembly of Ford Transit Connect Electric

2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric

Azure Dynamics Corporation and FoMoCo said yesterday that they have picked AM General LLC, best known as the maker of military Humvees and Hummers, to handle the final assembly of the Ford Transit Connect Electric, the all-electric version of the award winning Transit Connect.

Ford will ship engine-less Transit Connect units from its factory in Turkey to AM General in Michigan, where workers will install Azure Dynamic’s electric-powertrain. As a part of the project Azure Dynamics, also based in Michigan, won a $1.3 million state tax credit, which will create an estimated 83 jobs. The current production plan includes an initial quantity of vehicles to be built in late 2010 with full production scheduled to begin in April 2011.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time AM General has worked on an electric-vehicle project. In 1975, it made 350 electric Jeeps for the U.S. Postal Service

Click here to learn more about the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric.

Refresher: The 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric is powered by a Siemens model 135, 300V nominal, liquid-cooled, 3-phase AC induction motor, which gets its fuel from a 28kWh Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion battery pack. Mated to a single-speed transmission and running on a full-charge, the Transit Connect Electric provides 80 miles of driving range with a top speed of up to 75 mph. 0-60 mph takes about 12 seconds. Charging the Transit Connect Electric takes up to 6 to 8 hours when using 240v.

2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)