(October 29, 2009) Ford has shifted gears on the first of its upcoming electric vehicle programs. After announcing in February of this year that it would partner with Smith Electric Vehicles to produce a battery electric version of the new Transit Connect, Ford has ended that relationship. Instead Ford will work with Azure Dynamics to integrate an electric drive system into the Transit Connect.

Smith already produces an electric version of the Transit Connect and the larger Transit in the UK. Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Moore confirmed to Green Fuels Forecast that the Ford and Smith have reached a mutual agreement to end their collaboration. The two companies decided to go in different directions.

Azure Dynamics already builds hybrid electric shuttle buses based on the Ford E450 cutaway chassis and has an established business relationship with the automaker.

Under the new agreement Azure will integrate its Force Drive electric powertrain into the Transit Connect along with a lithium ion battery pack supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS). Ford had previously announced that JCS would be the battery supplier for its production plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012. The current test fleet of PHEV Ford Escapes is equipped with JCS battery packs.

Using the JCS batteries for the Transit Connect BEV will allow Ford to more quickly ramp up the volumes on these advanced energy storage systems, which will hopefully drive down the cost. Azure has also announced that it would replace the nickel metal hydride batteries in its hybrid shuttles with JCS lithium batteries in 2010. Ford has not yet announced who would supply batteries for the Focus based electric car that it will sell in 2011.

Ford has not yet announced where the EV installations will occur for the Transit Connect. The van is currently built in Turkey. The electric version will launch in 2010 for lease to commercial fleets. The range is expected to be at least 80 miles per charge.