jackalopetx Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Soon the only hybrid from Ford will be the Fusion sedan, which seems to make no sense- Hybrid buyers tend to be practical people rather than fashion followers who "hate hatchbacks", so why would they abandon the hybrid wagon market? Instead, why don't they simply put the C-Max drivetrain in the Transit Connect? The small van is currently proving to be popular with tradesmen, florists, delivery based companies, etc because it gets much better gas mileage than a full size van. But it still only gets 20mpg in the city at best. A hybrid version would double that. And the people who currently buy C-Maxes and Prius Vs would probably be drawn to the passenger version of the Transit. Am I missing something? Why would Ford not do this? JAZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markd Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I would be first in line to buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markd Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I don't see the C-Max going away, it might be rebadged but they're part of a bigger program. I expect the E line to have a pick up, van, hatch and a sedan, possibly a hybrid built off of the Fiesta platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottwood2 Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I think they will keep the C-Max or some kind of replacement for it. Ford already said they want a Hybrid that is designed as a hybrid from the ground up and that is being planned. I think the problem with vans and such is that the mileage change is not that great. GM did this on the trucks and had 20% better FE. So the Transit Connect would go from 20 to 24 MPG. 20% sounds good but only 4 mpg does not. It did not work for GM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Soon the only hybrid from Ford will be the Fusion sedan, which seems to make no sense- Hybrid buyers tend to be practical people rather than fashion followers who "hate hatchbacks", so why would they abandon the hybrid wagon market? Instead, why don't they simply put the C-Max drivetrain in the Transit Connect? The small van is currently proving to be popular with tradesmen, florists, delivery based companies, etc because it gets much better gas mileage than a full size van. But it still only gets 20mpg in the city at best. A hybrid version would double that. And the people who currently buy C-Maxes and Prius Vs would probably be drawn to the passenger version of the Transit. Am I missing something? Why would Ford not do this? The transit connect is not built on the same platform, so far as I know. So the drivetrain is not the same format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markd Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I believe that they share the same platform, the one I drove was almost the same as my car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackalopetx Posted June 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 The transit connect is not built on the same platform, so far as I know. So the drivetrain is not the same format.The Transit Connect is the focus platform but with a leaf sprung beam axle in the rear. Though the payload is 1500lb which the hybrid drivetrain may not be able to handle The big Transit is a different vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackalopetx Posted June 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I think they will keep the C-Max or some kind of replacement for it. Ford already said they want a Hybrid that is designed as a hybrid from the ground up and that is being planned. I think the problem with vans and such is that the mileage change is not that great. GM did this on the trucks and had 20% better FE. So the Transit Connect would go from 20 to 24 MPG. 20% sounds good but only 4 mpg does not. It did not work for GM. I thought Ford said they're discontinuing the C-Max and switching an electric vehicle I think GM's modest mileage gains were because the trucks were mild hybrids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obob Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Hybrids have to be driven like hybrids. Many of the drivers of the transit connects have hybrid style driving as a lower priority. And conventional drive trains probably will be less problematic and costly. My sense is that all-electric vehicles are less driving style sensitive. We are part of Fords testing of the engine. I suspect it will move out into other vehicles now that it pretty well tested. From what I gather from Wikipedia the transit connect is built in Turkey or Spain so that complicates things. As kind of previously mentioned with the payload post, the transmission may have to be majorly tweaked. And there may be other transmissions in development for more commercial vehicles. A while ago I was reading about development of conventional automatic transmissions with lots of gears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 They did make a all-electric for a year, but that business closed. ;) Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackalopetx Posted June 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Hybrids have to be driven like hybrids. Many of the drivers of the transit connects have hybrid style driving as a lower priority. And conventional drive trains probably will be less problematic and costly. My sense is that all-electric vehicles are less driving style sensitive. We are part of Fords testing of the engine. I suspect it will move out into other vehicles now that it pretty well tested. From what I gather from Wikipedia the transit connect is built in Turkey or Spain so that complicates things. As kind of previously mentioned with the payload post, the transmission may have to be majorly tweaked. And there may be other transmissions in development for more commercial vehicles. A while ago I was reading about development of conventional automatic transmissions with lots of gears. I don't think hybrids have to be driven like hybrids. The biggest gains are for people with a lead foot. In a conventional compact or mid size vehicle they'll get like 15mpg in city driving, so if they get 30mpg in a hybrid that's a huge improvement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 The Transit Connect is the focus platform but with a leaf sprung beam axle in the rear. Though the payload is 1500lb which the hybrid drivetrain may not be able to handle The big Transit is a different vehicleAh, good to know. I had thought it was a different platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxHeadroom Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Transit Connect is an ugly (plain, functional, low-styling) commercial vehicle really. They have tried to dress up a version, but with almost no success selling to soccer moms or practical people. Being a commercial market vehicle, it's even more price sensitive. A flower delivery company buying them would look at the payback time of the extra cost of the sophisticated hybrid powertrain and conclude they are better off going with Ford's cheapo powertrain.Although a Transit Connect Hybrid would make a perfect NY city taxi, with its sliding doors, narrow width, roominess inside. I've actually thought they could put the hybrid powertrain in about every car or pickup truck they make. However, Ford considers their own cost to make it, compared to what consumers will tolerate, and have concluded it's more profitable to offer cheaper, simple powertrains in most cars and trucks. As Li-Ion battery costs have come down recently though (i.e., LG Chem batteries now are $145/kWH, lower than ever), I think you'll see electric cars/trucks with gasoline engine generators in serial hybrid arrangements begin to appear more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxHeadroom Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Interesting comparison of a Transit Connect SWB with our C Max Hybrid:--- Same length--- Same width--- Same wheelbase---- Transit is taller (big box)So same footprint as ours. Frequent driving taxis in big cities would love a Transit Hybrid version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raadsel Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Transit Connect is an ugly (plain, functional, low-styling) commercial vehicle really. They have tried to dress up a version, but with almost no success selling to soccer moms or practical people. Being a commercial market vehicle, it's even more price sensitive. A flower delivery company buying them would look at the payback time of the extra cost of the sophisticated hybrid powertrain and conclude they are better off going with Ford's cheapo powertrain.Although a Transit Connect Hybrid would make a perfect NY city taxi, with its sliding doors, narrow width, roominess inside. I've actually thought they could put the hybrid powertrain in about every car or pickup truck they make. However, Ford considers their own cost to make it, compared to what consumers will tolerate, and have concluded it's more profitable to offer cheaper, simple powertrains in most cars and trucks. As Li-Ion battery costs have come down recently though (i.e., LG Chem batteries now are $145/kWH, lower than ever), I think you'll see electric cars/trucks with gasoline engine generators in serial hybrid arrangements begin to appear more. The other side of that, some cities require businesses to use "alternative fuel" vehicles for their fleet vehicles. Not sure if a hybrid would qualify, would likely depend on the city and their laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telesrjyje Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 If Ford builds a 200 mile BEV, it will be a trunkless car because the battery will fill up the whole trunk: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cr08 Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 Not necessarily. The only reason why most existing hybrid/PHEV vehicles lack trunk space is they are taking existing body styles that were not designed with EVs in mind and have to shoehorn the batteries in. The trunk is, in many cases, the easiest place to add it. And with the battery size needed for long range BEV's, I doubt Ford's going to shoehorn that into an existing ICE vehicle design without significantly reconfiguring the chassis to accommodate it. A good example is the Chevy Bolt which is designed from the ground up as a BEV. It is taking some design cues from Tesla and the battery is spread out in a flat pack under the floor taking up no precious cabin or cargo space: http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/Jan/naias/chevy/0111-bolt-du.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuelMiser Posted July 24, 2018 Report Share Posted July 24, 2018 I don't know why they always pick the small cars to get gas mileage. It's the Expeditions and Explorers that need all the help they can get. They should have made those vehicles get better mileage from the get go via hybrid or even better, diesel hybrid. ptjones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62Lincoln Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 There will be a Transit Connect hybrid, Ford's autonomous commercial vehicle will be the application. I'm not sure if Ford will offer a consumer version of the TC hybrid or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markd Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 Yep, next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 So, hate to revive a dead thread but its better than starting a new one since it kinda of related. I'm about to tick over 80K miles on my cmax. which puts me squarely in the "time to start looking for a new car" within the next 12 months. if this a was a toyota or a honda, 100K miles wouldn't bother me. There's been enough transmission issues with the cmax that 100K miles is kind of the magic number. my hobby involves hauling around RC boats that are up to 6' long, so while on paper a small pick up truck work, I pretty much loose the ability to haul people, and that not really an option. Even with a 4 seat pick up, the bed ends up being too short. So i've been considering the TC wagon. Yes its ugly. But its been a while since any car Ive owned has been anything more than an appliance. My wifes forester would work and then I could buy a commuter car, go 100% electric. But the Forrester is her car., and even though we are happily married I feel bad taking her car on long trips to play with my toys. so the TC has the seating ability and the storage capacity/flexibility, price is right. its well suited for around town work not a big and bulky as a true minivan, can be reasonably optioned but GD it, it is gutless... Ugh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 Marc, I have 146k miles on my second trans with 234k miles total. :) I don't know how much further I can go, but it keeps on going. Made a quick trip to AZ and back, 3500 miles last week. It would seem that they could put the same components from FEH into a TC. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 different trans and different engines so who knows about the longevity of the 8 spd trans in the TC... im no speedster. but the ability for the cmax to merge will with traffic is nice. an the TC is 2.5 sec slower... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 I was referring to New FEH which has very good acceleration. :) Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 I was referring to New FEH which has very good acceleration. :) Paul the transit is already a pretty hefty vehicle, tipping the scales at 4000lbs. which is about 300lbs more than the FEH the FEH hybrid system is about 200lbs heavier than the FE 2.0T which means the TC would be 4200lbs... so so the TC would end up being 500lbs heavier than the FEH plus 30 or so real world extra HP over a non Hybrid TC. I don't think the performance numbers would make change much I think the TC would be benfit from the 2.0 T ecoboost. decisions... decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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