Azure Dynamics

Azure Dynamics Corporation
Public
Traded as OTC Pink: AZDDQ
Industry Hybrid electric vehicle, electric vehicle, electric truck
Predecessor Solectria
Headquarters Oak Park, Michigan, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Scott T. Harrison, D. Campbell Deacon
Products Balance Hybrid
Transit Connect Electric
LEEP,Freeze,Lift
Force Drive Electric
Total assets Increase C$ 58.4 million (2009)
Website http://azuredynamics.gssiwebs.com/

Azure Dynamics Corporation is incorporated under the laws of Alberta, Canada[1] 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.

Due to financial difficulties, Azure filed for bankruptcy protection in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in March 2012, and production of the Transit Connect Electric van and Balance hybrid was stopped.[2][3]

Transit Connect Electric

The Transit Connect Electric is an all-electric van developed as a collaboration between Azure Dynamics and Ford Motor Company, but Azure is the official manufacturer of record.[4] Production began in December 2010, and will reach full capacity in April 2011 to produce between 600 to 700 units a year.[5][6]

The Azure Dynamics/Ford Transit Connect Electric has a range of 56 mi (90 km).[7]

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.[5] The vehicle is badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logos, with Azure Dynamics being the manufacturer of record.[4][8]

According to Ford and Azure, the Transit Connect Electric has an all-electric range of up to 80 mi (130 km),[5][6] but the official US Environmental Protection Agency range is 56 mi (90 km).[7] The electric van has a speed up to 75 mph (121 km/h).[5][6][6][9]

The rated the combined city/highway fuel economy at 62 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (3.8 L/100 km) 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.[7]

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 market[10]

Force 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.[11] 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.[12][13]

Solectria Corporation

Solectria Corporation was an American corporation based in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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.[14] 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.[15]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Sebastian Blanco (2012-03-28). "Azure halts Ford Transit Connect Electric production, Ford still confident in EV program". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  3. ↑ Danny King (2012-03-28). "Azure Dynamics files for protection, cancels share offering". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  4. 1 2 Matthew Dolan (2010-09-24). "Ford Works with Manufacturer for New Electric Van". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Nick Bunkley (2010-12-07). "Ford Starts to Ship an Electric Delivery Van". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Ford and Azure Dynamics Mark Production and Delivery of First Transit Connect Electrics". Ford Motor Company Press Release. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  7. 1 2 3 EPA. "2011–12 Electric Vehicles: Trucks". US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  8. ↑ Ford, Azure Dynamics will expand Transit Connect Electric to Europe in 2011
  9. ↑ 2010 Ford Transit Connect Officially First Ford Electric Vehicle
  10. ↑ AZD Investor Fact Sheet - Winter 2001
  11. ↑ Article: Azure Dynamics Completes Acquisition of Solectria
  12. ↑ Azure Dynamics ForceDriveTM Technology Powers Li-Ion Motors’ Wave II to Prestigious 2010 X PRIZE Victory
  13. ↑ $2.5 million winner in the Alternative Side by Side Class category
  14. ↑ The Solectria Force at a Glance
  15. ↑ Solectria Sunrise Sets New EV Range Record - 375 Miles
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