For many years, the Ford Transit has been a staple option for the UK’s builders and traders. It’s a brand that’s synonymous with ‘White Van Man’ and the localised transportation of goods and materials around the country. Ford has now completed a redesign for its electric Transit range and the new vehicles will begin production early in 2024. They are targeted to sell 900,000 units by 2025, all produced in Romania. Seems a pity that Ford couldn’t make right hand drive versions of this commercial vehicle right here in the UK.
Larger electric Ford commercial vehicles will soon flood the market. For now, the focus is on supporting smaller businesses and tradefolk. In practical terms, the E-Transit Courier will have 26% more load volume that previous models as well as these key specifications:-
- 100kW motor (136 bhp)
- 63kWh battery
- 100kW DC charging
- 80% in 35 mins on DC
- 11kW AC for a full charge in 5.7 hours overnight
- Rear Wheel Arch distance of 1.22m, allowing for 2x Euro Pallets
- Total cargo volume of 2.9 cubic metres (2,900 litres)
- Maximum load of 700Kg
- Maximum towing weight 750kg
E-Transit Courier aims to help businesses to stand out with a bold, distinctive exterior design and a spacious, practical interior designed around compact van users’ needs. The all-new model offers a comprehensive standard equipment specification including unique cabin features with ‘squircle’ steering wheel design to improve leg room and visibility for the driver, as well as a column-mounted gear shifter, push-button ignition and an electronic handbrake to deliver increased configurable storage space.
The ‘Digiboard’ instrument panel contains a 12-inch digital cluster and 12-inch centre touchscreen with Ford’s latest SYNC 4 system. 6 Subscription-based Connected Navigation 7 can boost productivity and reduce driver workload with updates on traffic, parking, charging and local hazards. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard. It also offers a class-unique Office Pack includes a foldaway flat work surface and lighting to make using a laptop, filling in paperwork or taking a break in the cab easier and more comfortable.
Ford says that driver and cargo safety are paramount, so it has included a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard – with the option to add Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centring, Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Intersection Assist and Reverse Brake Assist for more peace of mind in urban driving.
The manufacturer has a section called Ford Pro, dedicated to trying to ensure that the right products arrive in the market at the right time and with the options, software and modification options necessary to match their business customer’s needs. Is that important? Well Ford claims that half of the commercial vehicles they sell in Europe are ‘converted’ in some way – to specific customers. This ‘Special Vehicles’ team offers in-house engineering expertise that convert donor vehicles (the basic Transit etc) into something that’s especially suited for a specific market/customer. That includes performance upgrades, auxiliary batteries and preparation for features like beacon lights and trailer electrics for future EV platforms. This group also covers Ford Pro telematics, which includes the software to optimise management of connected commercial vehicles. Although specifically targeted to Ford vehicles, it has ‘multi-make’ functionality that allows fleets to manage their Ford and non-Ford vehicles using a plug-in device connected to the non-Ford vehicles. The result is on-going reporting on your fleet, including real-time vehicle location, health alerts, and driver monitoring to support compliance and training.
This system is being updates for the new generation of E-Transit vehicles, to include Ford Pro ETelematics 4 – which brings battery information, preparation and charging options into play. This is a subscription based service, which is free in year one.
