New all-electric Ford E-Transit Custom to arrive with 236 miles of range
The new E-Transit Custom will go into production at the end of the year
Ford is ramping up its plans to bring four new electric vans to the market by 2024 with the upcoming E-Transit Custom, E-Transit Courier and E-Tourneo Courier set to join the recently unveiled E-Tourneo Custom.
A previous teaser image had shown the four shadowy vehicles along with the full-size e-Transit. We expect the rest of the all-electric group to continue the E-Tourneo Custom’s naming system with an ‘E’ prefix added to the existing van (Transit) or people carrier (Torneo) titles to indicate a pure-electric powertrain.
The E-Transit Custom will use the same powertrain as its E-Tourneo Custom MPV sibling, so we can already deduce plenty about that van. Ford has said it’ll aim for 236 miles of range which is six miles more than the MPV thanks to the lack of interior features and seats.
Charging will max out at 125kW and there will be a choice of two powertrains with a 74kWh battery providing either 134bhp or 215bhp. This battery system will be carried over into the other all-electric Ford commercial vehicles.
Ford also divulged a few new details about the E-Transit Custom. A “Mobile Office option pack” includes a tilting steering wheel that can be used as a stand for laptops or tablets, plus several tables dotted around the cabin. There’s also a “Delivery Assist” feature which can automatically activate the hazard lights, close any open windows, and lock the door once the driver leaves the van when it’s parked.
Following on from Ford’s first all-electric commercial vehicle, the full-size E-Transit, these new additions will mean the brand should have five electrified vans on its books by 2024, bolstering the newly formed Ford Pro line up.
The medium-sized Transit Custom van will be also available with mild-hybrid diesel and plug-in hybrid. As with the new Custom van, the Tourneo Custom is set to have the option of a pure-electric powertrain in 2023. The smaller, next-generation e-Transit Courier van and e-Tourneo Courier MPV will get all-electric power in 2024.
The new model will be built by Ford Otosan in Turkey and will borrow plenty of technology from VW, following the two firms’ joint-venture agreement back in 2019. This won’t be the only product from the partnership either, as the brands have worked together closely on the Ford Ranger and upcoming Volkswagen Amarok.
The arrival of the electric Transit Custom is part of Ford's plan to offer a zero-emissions capable commercial vehicle range by 2024, comprising all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Beyond that, Ford is aiming to achieve zero emissions for all vehicle sales and carbon neutrality across European facilities, logistics and suppliers by 2035.
However, Ford is aware that some customers won't be able to move directly from combustion engines to electrification straight away, which is why the next Transit Custom will offer a variety of drive options. That means the future of Ford's diesel plant in Dagenham, Essex, is secure in the medium term at least, while transmissions will continue to be built in Cologne before being shipped to Turkey for final assembly.
As well as the arrival of electric drive, the new Transit Custom will feature Ford's latest connected services, which have been developed with assistance from Ford customers across Europe. The current Transit Custom is available with 3G connectivity, while further enhancements of the FordPass Pro and Ford Fleet Management vehicle management software are expected to be launched with the new model.
Stuart Rowley, former President of Ford in Europe, previously confirmed the importance of the new van: “The next generation Transit Custom range – including the all-electric versions – will strengthen Ford’s position as Europe’s number one commercial vehicle brand. Transit Custom is the jewel in our commercial vehicle crown and key in our drive to grow our commercial vehicle business as we continue to create a sustainable, profitable Ford business in Europe rooted in an electrified future.”
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