FORD has announced its new electric E-Transit van which will take to the road sometime in 2022 as part of the Blue Oval’s $11.5 billion global investment in electrification.
The company promises that the E-Transit will be a “smart workhorse that will offer customers enhanced productivity, software solutions, services and Pro Power Onboard options”.
With a usable battery capacity of 67kWh, the van has an estimated driving range of up to 217 miles on the combined WLTP cycle, providing enough range to meet daily requirements, but with sufficient additional capacity to account for variations in vehicle load and weather conditions.
Ford said this makes E-Transit ideal for urban environments, fixed drive routes and deliveries within geofenced zero-emission driving zones, without requiring fleet owners to pay for excess battery capacity they don’t need.
In Europe, Ford will offer a choice of 25 E-Transit configurations, with van, double-cab-in-van and chassis cab body styles, multiple length and roof-height options, and a range of gross vehicle mass options up to 4.25 tonnes, to support a wide variety of customer needs. Payloads range from 1,616kg up to 1,967kg for chassis cab models.
A special Eco Mode aims to provide up to an 8-10% improvement in energy usage if E-Transit is driven unladen with spirited acceleration or at highway speeds, according to Ford data. Eco Mode limits top speed, regulates acceleration and optimises climate control to help maximise the available driving range.
The vehicle also supports Scheduled Pre-Conditioning, enabling the climate control system to be programmed to adjust the cabin to the preferred temperature while the vehicle is still on charge, ensuring that the maximum driving range is available.
It also features optional Pro Power Onboard, which enables customers to transform the vehicle into a mobile power source, providing up to 2.3kW for powering tools and equipment on the jobsite and on the go – an industry first for LVCs in Europe.
Ford also extolled the new model’s business advantages. E-Transit can reduce service cost of ownership by approximately 40% compared with internal combustion engine-equipped models, as a result of lower maintenance expenses.
In Europe, customers will benefit from a one-year, unlimited mileage service offering that sits alongside the eight-year, 100,000 mile warranty package for the battery and high-voltage electric components.
Hans Schep, General Manager Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, said: “Our clear mission to make our customers’ businesses thrive has helped to make Ford the leading commercial vehicle brand in Europe.
Electrification brings new ways for customers to manage their businesses and fleets more efficiently. With E-Transit this is delivered with more than 55 years of Transit expertise, a network of expert dealers and converters, and an ecosystem of digital tools that will help translate the potential of electrification into a business reality – all that, and the benefits of zero-emission transportation.“
Ford will also offer a variety of charging solutions to fit fleet and driver needs, whether at home, at a place of business or on the road.
E-Transit features both AC charging and DC fast-charging. The vehicle’s 11.3kW on-board charger is capable of delivering a 100% charge in up to 8.2 hours. Charging with up to 115kW using a high-power DC fast-charger, E-Transit can top-up the battery from 15% to 80% in around 34 minutes.
Ford President and Chief Executive Jim Farley said: “We are doubling down on the software and digital services to help our fleet customers grow and more efficiently run their businesses.”
The E-Transit will be built at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli plant in Turkey on a dedicated line alongside the Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid.
Even as demand for delivery vehicles grows, cities around the world – from London to Los Angeles – are pledging to create emission-free zones, reduce greenhouse gas levels and lower noise pollution.
Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s Chief Product Platform Operations Officer, said: “E-Transit is a data rich, connected platform that will help our fleet customers unlock greater productivity. The value for our commercial customers grows over time as more connected vehicles join the network.”
Ford has been piloting electrified commercial vehicle technology since 2018, working in the UK, Germany, Spain and Turkey to study how drivers used Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid vehicles in London, Cologne, Valencia and Ankara
The company has applied those learnings – including on users’ vehicle use and charging habits – in developing E-Transit and its services. Following these city partnerships Ford will be undertaking extensive customer fleet trials with E-Transit in key European markets, starting next year.
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