Transit Connect Taxi: Nice try Ford, but you Fail Miserably
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.20.08
What the heck were they thinking? The Ford Transit Connect that was unveiled at the New York Auto Show looks good at first glance. Lots of headroom and a comfortable backseat. Memorable styling, kind of British, even... What about fuel economy? They estimate it at 19 miles per gallon (city). Does Ford not get it? Do they need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing?
It doesn't matter if it's 30% more fuel efficient than those old Crown Vics. Going from the low 10s to the high 10s is far from enough. In fact, it's kind of pathetic considering that New York has just announced that it will require its "black cars" to get hybrid-level efficiency and that taxis everywhere are looking at hybrids, plug-ins, EVs, etc. Come on, Ford. You have thousands of engineers. Listen to them and build a taxi that won't get you laughed at.
Lets hope there's a typo somewhere and they meant "49 mpg" or something like that...
See also: ::Hybrid Taxis Finally Arrive in New York City, ::Hybrid Taxis in New York- If they Make it there, They'll make it Anywhere., ::Electric Taxis Coming to NYC?, ::More Hybrid Taxis Coming to NYC, ::Hybrid Taxi Bill Passed by NY City Council
This baffles me. The latest evolutionary step in the NYC taxi fleet was sparked by the switch to the Ford Escape Hybrid. Why would they build all these (excellent) upgrades into a platform that's a huge step backwards?
Word.
It's so pathetic that I thought it was a typo at first, but I've seen it as 19 mpg on other sites too... Indeed, what are they thinking??
You'd think something that ugly would be battery powered!
Seriously, stop and go driving like taxis do is perfect for hybrid type cars.
19MPG for a vehicle this size is probably not too far off what the NYC taxi fleet Toyota Sienna's and Honda Passport's are currently getting (especially considering the new 2008 EPA label calculation). The problem with Ford, I mean what they really don't get, is the fact that they are not also announcing a hybrid version alongside this vehicle straight away. Non-hybrid versions may be necessary in non-urban fleets, but unveiling this concept in NYC (a city like so many others that is considering all hybrid taxi fleets) without a hybrid variant is laughable.
Considering the size of this thing and it's interior volume, that's not too bad for city mpg. Sure, lightweight exotic materials and an EV or hybrid drive train might make it uber efficient, but I'm guessing the cost would be prohibitive to most taxi fleets.
It isn't that they don't know ... or can't do. We know there is better mileage available.
The problem is that they simply don't wish to make efficient environmentally co-operative autos. 19 mpg in a CAB! Unacceptable.
People have changed attitudes, it is time for corporations like Ford to wake up.
Perhaps now that their customers are hooting at them, the message will get through.
People no longer wish to breathe your fumes.
I wouldn't look too far into this. The lack of a hybrid doesn't mean there won't be one. This looks like a low-cost marketing concept, not an engineering concept. This car is already being used in Europe as a taxi and is being brought to the US with this powertrain as a cheap urban service vehicle. They put the Euro taxi package and afunky yellow paint job on a US delivery vehicle and made a "new" vehicle in about a week without spending much money. Unveiling it in NYC isn't all that laughable. Taxi buyers from other US markets are still going to the NYC auto show to sample the wares.
Ford wouldn't need to bring a hybrid to this show for the NYCTLC. They've been talking to manufactures for some time through the Taxi of Tomorrow RFI project, so NYCTLC would already be aware of whatever plans Ford has for that market.
Actually phrancis, taxis are the best place to start with these expensive techs because they use a lot more fuel than most other vehicles.
Hybrids started making sense a few years ago -- less fuel, but also less wear on brake pads and things like that.
Ford has just missed an opportunity here.
Well folks first I would like to ask how many of you own a ford vehicle..... not many. You are not in their market, so getting up in arms will not help much. I think this vehicle is capable of much better economy without the massive additional cost of a hybrid powertrain. Just lobby you congressperson to lower US emissions and crash safety standards to that of europe or asia. That alone will increase economy by way of reduced weight and additional diesel powertrain options. To put the economy in perspective the new toyota corolla a small economy car with much less wind resistance is only rated at 27 MPG in the city with real world returns in the 25 range. So looking at this vehicle with its capabilities and design 19 is not bad. Please if you are really that concerned about fuel economy above all other factors contact your senator/congressperson and ask for dirtier and less safe cars.
That is laughable.
In the EU the Transit connect just won accolades for it's fuel economy... 52mpg!!!
http://www.carpages.co.uk/ford/ford_new_transit_04_10_02.asp
admittedly this was driving very carefully, but 40mpg should be easily attainable in NYC!
It is just this ridiculous pandering to US tastes for large engines that screws it all up!
ecobore, it only has a 2 liter spark ignition 4 cyl. The use of an automatic transmission, not using the diesel, more restrictive US emissions regulations and all of the added weight to meet US crash standards is the majority of the drop in fuel economy. Look at it this way, I owned a 1993 ford US escort and it regularly returned 39.5 miles to the gallon on the highway. Now even the great green god of the automotive world Toyota does not get that with it's corolla. Why you ask, it is not because they are now much faster due to the added horsepower, they are not. It is due to weight and the extra fuel needed to keep the NOX emissions below the standards now set in the US.
although i am not a ford fan nor do i claim to know the laws that govern this country, let us not forget that there is a political side to this too. auto makers who want to do good (even ford) has its challenges when confronted with red tape politics and bogus laws that is passed off as environmentally friendly.
In recent trips to NYC I have tried to use the escape hybrid cabs, but found very few and just a ton of crown vics(my bad luck I guess)...but why would ford think that it was ok to have a 19mpg vehicle and think it is a major improvement over the crown vic?...come on
Why is everybody so ready to ditch this vehicle?..Transit Connect.. It is got a nice vibe to it.. It looks like it can be a nice size taxi where the driver and the passenger is comfy and safe.. I hate the Ford Escape Hybrids, they lack the space for my comfort..I would like to ride an environmentally friendly taxi, only if it is comfortable enough. Tell me why, as a New Yorker, I have to sacrifice from my comfort riding a taxi when SUVs can drive in from suburbs at will?...
Why is everybody so ready to ditch this vehicle?..Transit Connect.. It is got a nice vibe to it.. It looks like it can be a nice size taxi where the driver and the passenger is comfy and safe.. I hate the Ford Escape Hybrids, they lack the space for my comfort..I would like to ride an environmentally friendly taxi, only if it is comfortable enough. Tell me why, as a New Yorker, I have to sacrifice from my comfort riding a taxi when SUVs can drive in from suburbs at will?...
I take cabs everyday in NYC. I hate the Escape Hybrids as they lack the space I need. I will pass them for a Crown Vic anyday. I live and work in NYC and do not like to be told by government to ride in smaller taxis when SUVs from Suburbs can drive in to my domain at will. If the idea is to save my life, since I live in NYC, they should first eliminate SUVs and Low Emmisison Trucks coming into MY city before asking me to give up comfort... Hybrid Taxis?.. Thanks but no Thanks, that is until they get bigger...