Alternative Energy: Ford Transit Connect Electric joins GSA-approved plug-in vehicle list

Ford Transit Connect Electric joins GSA-approved plug-in vehicle list: "

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, Legislation and Policy, USA

Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back on May 24th, the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees two-thirds of the 600,000-plus vehicles in the U.S. government's fleet - announced that it would purchase 116 plug-in vehicles, including 101 Chevrolet Volts, ten Nissan Leafs and five Think City electric vehicles. One of the plug-in vehicles absent from that list is the Ford Transit Connect Electric.

However, it looks like the Transit Connect's absenteeism will be short-lived. Azure Dynamics says that the Transit Connect Electric was awarded a GSA contract, allowing federal government agencies and the U.S. Armed Forces to order the zero-emissions van via Northside Ford in San Antonio, TX.

The GSA contract is a four-year deal consisting of one guaranteed year and three one-year options extending through August of 2014. The GSA estimates the potential value of the contract at more than $112 million and, according to Azure Dynamics, the Transit Connect Electric is the only battery-powered van of its type on the GSA-approved plug-in vehicle list.

GSA clearly points out that its estimated $112-million contract value is neither an indication of future sales, nor a guarantee of actual sales. This GSA award simply serves as a channel that allows for potential government orders.

Gallery: Ford Transit Connect Electric