Electric Van of the Year 2022: Ford E-Transit
The Ford E-Transit is the 2022 Auto Express Electric Van of the Year, with the LEVC VN5 and Vauxhall Vivaro-e commended
While it’s late to the electric van party, the Ford E-Transit has set a new benchmark for the class. Ford hasn’t strayed far from the standard electric van formula, but what it has done is improved on it in every area. Even better, Ford has managed to do so while undercutting most of its rivals on price, too.
Factor in the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, and the price gap between diesel and electric Transit has shrunk enough that fleet operators will be able to recoup the extra cost of the E-Transit faster than ever, thanks to its low everyday running costs. It means that the switch to electrification is more attainable than ever for firms that want to do their bit to reduce emissions.
Power for the E-Transit comes from a choice of 181bhp or 265bhp electric motors, which are mounted on the back axle for rear-wheel drive, while the 68kWh battery is located under the cargo floor and offers an official range of up to 196 miles. This running gear fits seamlessly into the Transit’s frame, too, so you still get the same cargo volumes of up to 15.1 cubic metres, as well as the option of three panel-van lengths and two roof heights.
On the road, the E-Transit is quiet and refined, while the automatic gearbox helps it to deliver a relaxing drive that will leave operators stress-free after a day’s work.
Not only does the E-Transit electrify the UK’s best-selling van, it also introduces Ford Pro to the market. This one-stop shop offers everything operators need, from choosing the right models for their business, to monitoring the status of their vehicles in real time and keeping service and repair times as short as possible.
Our choice
Ford E-Transit 135kW 184PS L2 H3 Trend (£47,235 ex-VAT*)
For the full E-Transit experience, choose a Trend model with the 12-inch touchscreen to make the most of the connectivity on offer. It also comes with a suite of safety kit, including lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers, and cruise control.
Commended
Not everyone is ready to go fully electric, and the VN5 is a great stop-gap for firms that need a long range and low emissions. Its petrol-electric hybrid system offers 64 miles of pure-electric range, which should be fine for most daily use, but when the petrol generator kicks in, there’s a 319-mile range for longer journeys.
Last year’s winner (along with the similar Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert, Toyota Proace Electric and now Fiat e-Scudo) is still the medium-sized electric van of choice. The larger 75kWh battery offers a claimed 201 miles of range, while car-derived underpinnings mean there’s plenty of safety kit and surefooted handling.
The 2022 Electric Van of the Year is brought to you in association with Osprey Charging
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