Detroit Edison, an electric utility and subsidiary of DTE Energy, now has some very special Ford Transits in their fleet. Serving nearly 2.1 million customers in the southeast region of Michigan, Detroit Edison now has the assistance of four Transit Connect Electrics for their field crews. When they’re not working, the fully electric and zero emissions vans will rest at DTE’s headquarters in downtown Detroit. “The addition of these all-electric Transit Connects to our fleet will help Detroit Edison advance the use of electric vehicles in a couple of ways,” said Steven Kurmas, president and COO of Detroit Edison.
“First, we will learn firsthand how these vehicles perform in day-to-day field operations and how we can make the best use of their unique characteristics. Second, they will help us learn more about how the use of electric vehicles by consumers and businesses will impact the electrical system and what utilities need to do to support adoption of these vehicles.”
Field crews will use the Transit Connect Electrics for repair and maintenance work on Michigan’s electrical lines and distribution centers. Fitted with a ‘Force Drive’ powertrain built by Azure Dynamics, the Ford uses a lithium-ion battery with a driving range between 50 and 80 miles. This is Ford’s first vehicle in their electric vehicle plan that will spawn the upcoming C-Max Electric and Focus Electric. There is no word from Ford yet as to whether or not the commercial Transit Connect Electric will make it into the public’s hands.
Source: Ford
