ADT: Ford Transit Connect will save us $5.3 million in fuel costs

It may not be the sexiest vehicle on the street, but the recently-announced Ford Transit Connect is so good at sipping fuel that ADT Security Services says it will double its order in the next six months.

The electronic security firm said on Monday that the doubled order totaling 3,000 Transit Connects will save the company approximately $5.3 million in annual fuel costs -- not to mention reducing carbon emissions, too.

ADT's decision to purchase the Transit Connects came after a five-week pilot program. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based company says it will replace almost half of its North American fleet with the eco-friendlier van, which will be driven by technicians who install and service security systems.

"The Transit Connect seems to work well for ADT residential and small business installers and service technicians – especially those in congested, urban areas," said David Wade, ADT Supply Chain and Fleet Group director, in a statement. "It is much easier to maneuver and park than a larger commercial van, and it offers ample cargo-carrying capacity for supplying our residential and small business customers."

ADT says its technicians were reluctant at first to try the Transit Connect, which they thought was too small to carry all their required gear. But by the end of the five-week period, perceptions shifted.

By the numbers:

Large commercial vans represented 95 percent of ADT's total fleet.
Those vans cost the company $30 million in annual fuel costs.
The Transit Connect offers 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
ADT technicians spend an average of 2,000 miles per month on the road.
The driver's side cargo door was a favorable perk for the drivers, who said it allowed them to get in and out of the vehicle more quickly.

The move is part of a corporation-wide greening initiative called "Vital World" by ADT's parent company, Tyco International.

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