Obviously, to own and operate a small business, particularly in the downtown core, is costly. First, there’s the expense of premium real estate, and then everyone wants their goods delivered today, and at little or no additional cost to them. But what can you do when fuel prices are skyrocketing through the roof?
Well, you can now give an ungentlemanly wave of your middle digit to the oil barons and go purely electric, because Ford is about to roll out its new plug-in Transit Connect Electric.
This gas-powered vehicle, which was named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year, has already proven itself immensely popular with businesses both here and around the world, is now available in electric form.
From the outside, one can barely tell the difference between this and the standard gasoline-powered model. In fact, even the rear cargo area stays pretty much the same. However, what’s under the hood is what makes the difference, especially with regards to the cargo-carrying capacity of your wallet.
A 28-kWh lithium-ion battery powers the vehicle, and charges on a 240V/30A system in just 6 to 8 hours (perfect for overnight). 120V charging is also available through the vehicle’s gas flap-looking docking port.
Apart from looking slightly different up front, everything you would expect to see is there, just adapted for an electric vehicle. The vacuum for the brake boost system is electrically driven, as is the steering/water pump, and the vehicle boasts A/C and just about everything else you’d expect to find in a modern commercial vehicle. Basically without delving deeper, you’d never know this vehicle was electric, apart from the fact that it doesn’t stop at gas stations!
This small (although not as little as you might think) electrical marvel is capable of 120 km/h (75 mph) and in many ways, feels peppier than its gas-powered brother. This is one of the many benefits of electrically-powered vehicles, the availability of immediate torque.
Of course, with a range of just 128 kilometres on a charge, this vehicle’s not going to suit everyone’s needs, but for those operating a local scheduled delivery service, it might be worth calculating the typical daily mileage. When said quickly, 128 km may not sound like a lot, but if one pays close attention to the odometer, you’ll discover that it takes a long time to travel that distance when weaving through city traffic.
Performance wise, I’d say that the acceleration is actually better than the standard gasoline-powered model, and yet the power is delivered as smooth as silk.
Now, I wasn’t given the opportunity to hurtle my test vehicle around corners with wild abandonment, but from what I did manage, I’d say it possibly has the edge over the gas model in that department as well. This might have something to do with the rear underfloor location of the battery, and its effect on the vehicle’s center of gravity.
Of course, being a commercial van, perhaps the most anticipated specification is payload capacity which, according to official estimates, is 1,000 lbs or just under half a ton. Whilst that number may not work for every business, it is a significant amount given the size of the vehicle.
In fact, having come from a building trade family background, I would actually opt for this vehicle over a regular half-ton pickup, simply because of the ease of cargo access. After all, it boasts two large side-loading doors, two fold-back rear doors, and a fairly low floor height; whereas the standard pickup often involves loading up the tailgate, and then clambering up into the bed to move the cargo forward (one of the downsides of making trucks taller).
The Transit Connect Electric costs $63,200 CDN plus destination charge, while Provincial and Federal rebates for electric vehicles can be applied to the price.
On the whole, I was very impressed with the new Transit Connect Electric and I’m hoping that it will prove a success for the company. With environmental issues concerning everyone today, this vehicle offers the opportunity for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. In fact, I’d like to see local government departments take a real close look at this vehicle. Wouldn’t it be perfect for downtown parks & recreation, or even local police patrols/parking enforcement, etc?
Come on now guys, it’s time to start thinking outside of the box! Or considering the vehicle we’re talking about, maybe I should say, “inside the box”!
By Kevin, photo : Kevin Corrigan/Auto123.com
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