In a press release a few hours ahead of the start of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford  and electric vehicle partner Auzure Dynamics has announced the Ford Transit Connect Electric will be joined in 2012 by an five-seat electric wagon version for the commercial market. 

Aimed at businesses rather than individuals, the 2012 Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon will add a second row of seats to increase the seating capacity to five. 

Behind the rear bench seat, the Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon will still feature more than enough room for bags, making it the ideal vehicle for campus settings like universities, military bases, airports and even short-range vehicle hire services. 

2012 Ford Transit Connect Wagon

2012 Ford Transit Connect Wagon

The Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon will feature the same 28 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack found in its cargo sibling, giving it an identical range of between 55 and 80 miles per charge. 

While it wasn’t built specifically for the purpose, the Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon should offer families in need of more storage space than cars like the 2012 Nissan Leaf and 2012 Chevrolet Volt can offer a way of making the switch to electric power. 

With a high roof line and the ability to fold down the second row of seats for more storage, it could also offer self-employed people a car that can function both as a weekend family car and a robust, weekday workhorse. 

There has been no official word on price yet, although Azure Dynamics has said the Ford Transit Connect Electric Wagon qualifies for the same Federal and state incentives as its cargo-carrying sibling. 

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