"What a great boost to the morale it was for all us “commercial sales troops” when our “General,” Alan Mulally came and spent a little time visiting with us!  There were about seventy people at the Northwest Ford Truck Club meeting, when Ford’s leader came as our guest.  He spent an hour telling us what he felt about the state of Ford’s business and his genuine enthusiasm for the future.....more.."

Ford unveiled an electric version of its Transit Connect work van ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, which opens to the press on Wednesday.

The 2011 Transit Connect Electric, which is expected to appear in fleets later this year, will offer a range of 80 miles per charge and a top speed of 75 miles per hour. The van is equipped with a 28 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that recharges with a 240-volt outlet in six to eight hours. The Transit Connect Electric is also 120 volt compatible (though charge time is likely to be considerably longer). Ford says the battery pack should last the life of the vehicle.