DEARBORN, MI – DTE Energy took delivery of two of four recently purchased Ford Transit Connect Electric vehicles at the energy company’s downtown Detroit headquarters on Aug. 12. 

DTE Energy said the addition of these four Transit Connect Electrics continues efforts to expand the company's use of alternative-fuel vehicles. Detroit Edison field crews will use the vehicles in repair and maintenance operations. Detroit Edison is a DTE Energy subsidiary.

“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 Detroit Edison President and Chief Operating Officer Steven Kurmas. “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.”

The Ford Transit Connect Electric, a pure electric-powered version of the Transit Connect small van, is fitted with a Force Drive battery electric powertrain made by Azure Dynamics featuring Johnson Controls-Saft’s advanced lithium-ion battery technology. The vehicle has a target range of up to 50 to 80 miles per full charge, and will be rechargeable using either 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlets.

The vehicles were purchased from Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights, Mich., one of the first Transit Connect Electric-selling dealerships, and the first Ford dealership to offer a full line of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Transit Connect Electric is the first product in Ford’s accelerated electrified vehicle plan, and will be followed by the Focus Electric, the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2012 and another next-generation hybrid vehicle later in 2012.