Azure Dynamics
Encyclopedia
Azure Dynamics Corporation is incorporated under the laws of Alberta, Canada having been spun out of BC Research Inc
. Azure now is headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan
, a suburb of Detroit. The company's principal business is in the development and integration of its proprietary electric and hybrid electric drive technology, primarily for the light and heavy duty commercial vehicle categories.
van
developed as a collaboration between Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company
, but Azure is the official manufacturer of record. Production began in December 2010, and will reach full capacity in April 2011 to produce between 600 to 700 units a year.
The Transit Connect Electric is produced using a vehicle glider
at a Ford Motor Company
facility in Kocaeli, Turkey and then shipped to Azure Dynamics U.S. upfitter, AM General
in Livonia, Michigan
, where the Force Drive™ electric drive train and other components are added to the vehicle. Azure Dynamics has partnered with Johnson Controls
-Saft to produce the lithium-ion battery pack used in the Transit Connect Electric. The vehicle is badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record.
According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range
of up to 80 mi (128.7 km), but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is 56 mi (90.1 km). The electric van has a speed up to 75 mph (33.5 m/s).
The rated the combined city/highway fuel economy
at 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
(62 miles per US gallon) based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, with the same 62 mpg-e rating for both city and highway. The energy consumption for combined city/highway was rated at 54 kW·h/100 mi.
. Azure Dynamics Corporation acquired all assets of Solectria Corporation in 2005. Solectria is credited for the original development of the ForceDrive™ Electric drive train, which was known at the time as the Solectria Force
. The Solectria Sunrise
set an all electric vehicle record by traveling 375 miles on a single charge during the 1996 NESEA American Tour de Sol.
BC Research Inc
BC Research Inc. was based at a scientific research and development company located at the BC Research and Innovation Complex at the south end of the University of British Columbia campus. The facility closed in November 2007...
. Azure now is headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan
Oak Park, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,863.8 persons per square mile . There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 2,263.9 per square mile...
, a suburb of Detroit. The company's principal business is in the development and integration of its proprietary electric and hybrid electric drive technology, primarily for the light and heavy duty commercial vehicle categories.
Transit Connect Electric
The Transit Connect Electric is an all-electricElectric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
developed as a collaboration between Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, but Azure is the official manufacturer of record. Production began in December 2010, and will reach full capacity in April 2011 to produce between 600 to 700 units a year.
The Transit Connect Electric is produced using a vehicle glider
Vehicle glider
In automobiles, a glider is a vehicle without a powertrain . It is generally a brand new car, but a second-hand car can also be used...
at a Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
facility in Kocaeli, Turkey and then shipped to Azure Dynamics U.S. upfitter, AM General
AM General
AM General is an American heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. It is best known for the civilian Hummer and the military Humvee, that is assembled in Mishawaka, Indiana...
in Livonia, Michigan
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
, where the Force Drive™ electric drive train and other components are added to the vehicle. Azure Dynamics has partnered with Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was founded in 1885 by professor Warren S. Johnson, inventor of the first electric room thermostat....
-Saft to produce the lithium-ion battery pack used in the Transit Connect Electric. The vehicle is badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record.
According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range
All-electric range
All-electric range is the driving range of a vehicle using only power from its electric battery pack to traverse a given driving cycle. In the case of a battery electric vehicle, it means the total range per charge. For a plug-in hybrid , it means the range of the vehicle in charge-depleting mode...
of up to 80 mi (128.7 km), but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is 56 mi (90.1 km). The electric van has a speed up to 75 mph (33.5 m/s).
The rated the combined city/highway fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
at 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent
Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. MPGe is used by the U.S...
(62 miles per US gallon) based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls, with the same 62 mpg-e rating for both city and highway. The energy consumption for combined city/highway was rated at 54 kW·h/100 mi.
Balance™ Hybrid Electric
The Azure Dynamics Balance™ Hybrid Electric vehicle is built on the Ford E-450 commercial stripped or cutaway chassis. The vehicle is modified with the Azure Force Drive™ Electric drivetrain technology, along with the Johnson Controls-Saft Lithium-Ion battery, by Utilimaster and then sent to one of Azure's bus body manufactures such as Collins Bus, Champion Bus, ElDorado National, Goshen Coach, StarTrans and TurtleTop where it is built as a shuttle bus, Class A school bus, delivery truck, etc. Azure Dynamics owns approximately 60% market share of the medium duty commercial hybrid truck marketForce Drive™ Electric
The Force Drive™ Electric is a proprietary electric drive train component developed by Azure Dynamics. This drive system is based upon the product originally developed by Solectria Corporation, which was acquired by Azure Dynamics in 2005. The Force Drive™ drive train is integrated into the Ford Transit Connect Electric, Ford E-Series Balance™ Hybrid, as well has a number of other passenger and medium and heavy duty trucks. The Force Drive™ was used in the Wave II electric vehicle developed by Li-Ion Motors, the $2.5 million prize winner in the "Alternative Side by Side Class" category of the 2010 Progressive X-Prize competition.Solectria Corporation
Solectria Corporation was an American corporation based in Woburn, MassachusettsWoburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
. Azure Dynamics Corporation acquired all assets of Solectria Corporation in 2005. Solectria is credited for the original development of the ForceDrive™ Electric drive train, which was known at the time as the Solectria Force
Solectria Force
The Solectria Force is a Geo Metro, professionally converted from a new, motorless vehicle to become a battery electric vehicle. Converted by Solectria Corporation of Wilmington, Massachusetts , it is no longer in production. Approximately 400 vehicles were converted...
. The Solectria Sunrise
Solectria Sunrise
The Solectria Sunrise was an innovative electric passenger car, designed to be as efficient as possible to produce long range from available battery technology....
set an all electric vehicle record by traveling 375 miles on a single charge during the 1996 NESEA American Tour de Sol.