Comments on: Carmakers Join GOP Lawmakers to Stymie Fuel Economy Hikes http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/ Auto alternatives for the 21st century Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:24:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: AmberlyLos http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29801 AmberlyLos Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:01:36 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29801 you’re in reality a excellent webmaster. The website loading pace is amazing. It sort of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a magnificent activity on this subject! Visit Website I get pleasure from, cause I discovered just what I was having a look for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29800 Anonymous Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:33:02 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29800 Just went to Azure’s web site. It seems the buyer of Transit Connect have to see ‘selected’ Azure authorized Ford dealers, not just any ‘local’ Ford dealer one might expect.

Another myth busted.

]]> By: Shines http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29799 Shines Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:50:54 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29799 Anon you are right – I was just speculating on Fords providing funding. My bad – I can’t substantiate my claim.
However, they did supply a whole vehicle platform for Azure.
They did partner with Azure and AM General on assembly and Johnson Controls for the battery.
An electric vehicle has been produced. And of the big three this one is mostly Ford. Spin it any way you want, it takes a lot of effort to coordinate the integration of vehicle frame, propulsion system and power/battery supply. It seems Azure did most of the work on this. But in the end if you want to buy one you’ll have visit your local Ford Dealership. Same with the Focus EV or Fusion and Escape hybrids.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29798 Anonymous Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:40:17 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29798 shines said:
- Ford pays Azure to incorporate their EV technology in the Transit Connect.
- [s/he is] sure Ford provided a lot of funding to Azure to help them make that happen

Fact or speculation?
Any published report(s) that can substantiate your ‘claims’??

]]> By: Shines http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29797 Shines Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:48:14 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29797 @Anon – it’s easy to spin an article one way or another isn’t it?
I read it this way: Azure has an idea for an excellent automotive electric propulsion system but no vehicle. Ford is working on EV technology but is behind in the game. They partner with each other. Ford already spent millions developing the Transit Connect. Ford pays Azure to incorporate their EV technology in the Transit Connect. I am sure Ford provided a lot of funding to Azure to help them make that happen. Azure’s technology is then sold nation (World?) wide through Ford’s dealership network. Looks like a win win to me. Ford hires 5 of their own staff to help Azure with the integration of their system in the Transit. There is way more to a vehicle system than just the electrical system. So saying Ford pulls off an electrical vehicle program with a staff of five is not accurate.
Nice spin though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29796 Anonymous Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:40:34 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29796 Nelson Lu said: “Anonymous, it’s called a “Ford Transit Connect Electric.” In my book, that makes it a Ford. Just as if Tesla actually produces EVs for Toyota and they are sold as Toyotas, they would be Toyotas even if they are produced by Tesla.”

According to this http://green.autoblog.com/2010/12/07/ford-transit-connect-gets-delivered-in-short-order-by-azure-dyna/, the ‘Ford Transit Connect Electric’ is, quote: ‘only partly a Ford vehicle. The Transit Connect Electric’s ‘manufacturer of record’ is Azure Dynamics.”

If what is reported is true, then the true identity of such vehicle may not be Ford. It is a Ford, perhaps, in name only.

Would you look into it and report back?

The article also mentioned that: “How much did Ford have to do to get the electric van into production – aside from making the liquid-fueled Transit Connect in the first place? We don’t know for sure, but there were only five Ford employees who worked full-time on the Transit Connect Electric program.”

Oops. Five employees doesn’t sound many, don’t you think? Congrats to Ford to pull off an ‘electric vehicle’ program with FIVE employees. (If Ford can run an electric vehicle program with five staff, it makes me wonder why Ford announced to hire hundreds, if not thousands, of engineers recently.)
Alternately, are they all involved in training the dealers to service the vehicle? Haha.

Furthermore, in a separate article, Autoblog Green also reported that “Azure Dynamics has announced that it has signed deals with the final two organizations to join the Ford Transit Connect Electric’s ‘Lead Customer’ program.”

It is note worthy that it included a press release from Azure and it was Azure which signed the agreement with its LEAD customers.
Hmmm, where is Ford? It seems that company’s interest is just to show off the car in auto shows and earn some green bragging right.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29795 Anonymous Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29795 Automakers like GM, Ford and Toyota instead of just keep talking their talk, saying they are ready for better mileage in tomorrow’s world, they should stand up and show us what their true colours are:
either correct the action of Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers or quit the ‘alliance’ altogether; otherwise they are just paying lip service.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29794 Anonymous Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:05:12 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29794 Nelson Lu said: “Anonymous, it’s called a “Ford Transit Connect Electric.” In my book, that makes it a Ford.”

Just for interest, will Ford dealers be able to perform any ‘service’ on the electric components of these ‘Ford’ Transit Connect Electric?

]]> By: Nelson Lu http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29793 Nelson Lu Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:46:34 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29793 Anonymous, it’s called a “Ford Transit Connect Electric.” In my book, that makes it a Ford. Just as if Tesla actually produces EVs for Toyota and they are sold as Toyotas, they would be Toyotas even if they are produced by Tesla. (Although I am still not convinced that Tesla will ever have the ability to mass-produce anything.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hybridcars.com/carmakers-join-gop-lawmakers-stymie-fuel-economy-hikes-29437/#comment-29792 Anonymous Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:56:53 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=8095#comment-29792 Nelson Lu said: “Ford currently has as many electrical models on the market (one) as Nissan …”

Hmmmm, the Transit Connect Electric uses an electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics.

- the motor, NOT by Ford;
- the transaxle, NOT by Ford;
- the battery, NOT by Ford.

- ‘glider’ i.e. the body shell – assembly at Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey
- final assembly by Azure Dynamics Corporation

So, how much of the ‘electric’ content of the vehicle comes from Ford???

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