Ford goes wireless for electric launch
Ford has embraced wireless technology to advance its lithium-ion battery systems for the Transit Connect Electric.
The wireless technology collects and sends data from electric vehicles undergoing real-world testing to a lab via a secure internet server. Here, the data is recorded and evaluated.
The on-board software can then be instantly updated to improve capability and durability which, says Ford, has ‘significantly reduced test-fleet downtime’ and allowed it to ‘more than double its battery lab-testing capability.’
The Ford Transit Connect Electric will be a five-passenger vehicle with a range of up to 80 miles. Power will be supplied by a 28kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 55kW electric traction induction motor mounted to the chassis.
It is expected to have a top speed of around 75mph and will take under 10 hours to charge using a household 230-volt electrical supply.
The Ford Transit Connect Electric is coming to Europe in 2011 and will be the first of many electric vehicles from Ford.