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Home | Green Cars News | Technology | Azyre Picks Johnson Controls for Transit Connect BEV Battery Supplier

Azyre Picks Johnson Controls for Transit Connect BEV Battery Supplier

01 December, 2009 09:03:00

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Johnson Controls-Saft has been chosen as the Lithium-ion battery supplier for Azure Dynamic's Force Drive(TM) integration on the Ford Transit Connect Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

Azure Dynamics will integrate its proprietary Force Drive™ battery electric drive train into the Transit Connect BEV, which will have a targeted range of 80 miles minimum on a full charge and zero tailpipe emissions. The all-electric van will be in production beginning in late 2010.

Commercial transportation in an urban environment accounts for 12 percent of total miles driven, yet is responsible for 25 percent of total greenhouse emissions. The Transit Connect BEV would eliminate gas costs and enable fleet owners to more accurately forecast the cost of doing business. It has a targeted range of 80 miles on all-electric power, and is the first of four electric vehicles Ford plans to build in its global commercial vehicle program.

In addition to its work with Azure, Johnson Controls-Saft is in production with the Mercedes S-Class hybrid, currently on sale in Europe and the United States.

Johnson Controls-Saft also will supply the Li-ion hybrid batteries for the BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid available in 2010 and Ford's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle available in 2012.

The Transit Connect BEV will use the same battery technology that is currently installed in the Ford Escape test fleet of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, also supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft.

The Johnson Controls-Saft battery systems, including electronics, electrical and mechanical components, will be assembled at the company's facility in Holland, MI. Azure Dynamics has not announced the manufacturing location for the Transit Connect BEV.

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