The first European customer trials of the new 2022 E-Transit – the all-electric version of the world’s best-selling cargo van, the Ford Transit – will soon be underway, Ford announced today. Prototype E-Transit vehicles will be joining customer fleets to operate in challenging real-world conditions with major businesses in the grocery, home delivery, postal services, and utility sectors across Germany, Norway, and the UK.
“Real-world trials are an important step on our journey to deliver the all-electric E‑Transit and will give us an even better understanding of how to help customers across different industries enhance their productivity using zero-emission power,” said Andrew Mottram, E-Transit chief program engineer, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe.
Ford’s European customer trials form part of an extensive development program for the E‑Transit ahead of its launch in spring 2022. Beginning in the late summer of this year, they have been designed to confirm that the all-electric van can comfortably meet the demands of a wide range of operating scenarios.
Ford engineers will use data from the trials to help refine the E‑Transit’s next-level connected vehicle technology and range management features to offer an optimized operating experience for customers.
Prototype vehicles taking part in the trial – assembled at Ford’s global commercial vehicle center of excellence in Dunton, UK – will include E-Transit van and chassis cab variants with conversions including refrigerated bodies, box vans, dropsides, and interior racking. European E-Transit customers will be offered a generous choice of body, length, roof height, and Gross Vehicle Weight options from launch, giving 25 possible variants to suit a wide range of businesses.
The E-Transit’s cargo area is similar to diesel-powered Transit models for ease of conversion, and to allow Transit operators to reuse existing racking with the all-electric van. An industry-first Pro Power Onboard system delivers up to 2.3 kW through standard plugs to power conversions and equipment in the cab and load area. Anticipated payload is up to 1,616 kilograms (3,562 pounds) for vans and up to 1,967 kilograms (4,336 pounds) for chassis cab models.
The E-Transit’s all-electric powertrain delivers up to 200 kW (268 horsepower) for a targeted WLTP range of up to 350 kilometers (218 miles), supported by range-boosting technologies including Eco Mode and Scheduled Pre-Conditioning. Operators will additionally benefit from new SYNC 4 technology including a 12-inch screen and available cloud-connected navigation, enhanced through automatic wireless Software Updates.
Ford expects the service cost of ownership for the 2022 E-Transit to be approximately 40 percent lower compared with internal combustion engine-equipped models, as a result of lower maintenance expenses.
We’ll have more on the E-Transit soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Transit news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comment
I was looking at a passenger version at my local dealership and was surprised how nice and versatile they are. Nice to see Ford adding an EV version. I was also surprised that the commercial Transit is the top sellIng van in the world