Ford Transit Connect Electric to Include Lotus Engineering?

In brief: The Ford Transit Connect Electric will see assembly support for European sales from Lotus Lightweight Structures (a part of Group Lotus).

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: Transit Connect Electric (Europe)
Manufacturer: Ford / Azure Dynamics

The word

Azure Dynamics, the electrification partner of Ford Motor Co for the Transit Connect Electric, has chosen Lotus Lightweight Structures as its European partner to supply assembly support for the electric trucks.

The Ford Transit Connect is built in Ford's plant in Turkey with the Electric versions being built without a drive train (as "sleds"). These are shipped to the United Kingdom where Lotus will be adding in the Azure Dynamics electric powertrain and batteries. These Transits will be sold throughout Europe.

This completes the supply chain and manufacturing for the Transit Connect Electric's European sales needs.

And so ...

The battery electric truck/van can travel 50 or 80 miles per charge (depending on cycle) and recharges in 6-8 hours on standard European 220/240V. As in the U.S., it is initially to be sold as a commercial vehicle.

Photo credits: Azure Dynamics