Ford Pro introduced the van that European small businesses have been waiting for. The Ford E-Transit Custom is a fully electric version of Europe's best-selling van. The design of the Ford E-Transit Custom electric van has effectively combined Ford's global expertise in research, design, and software development with advanced electric car technology and Ford Pro's digital software and service ecosystem. This helps companies reduce ownership costs, work more efficiently, and facilitate the transition to electric cars.
Inspired by experience and feedback from small and medium-sized businesses, the all-new van has been developed to offer innovative customer experiences based on cloud connectivity and digital technologies – all future-proofed with wireless Ford Power-Up software updates.
Next-generation battery technology enables a range of up to 380 kilometers and 125 kW fast charging. E-Transit Custom offers excellent performance for various customer needs - all of this is supported by Ford Pro's comprehensive change management and optimization solutions.
The Ford E-Transit Custom electric van has new digital solutions for vehicle security, deliveries, and cab access. The cockpit also functions as a mobile office with a 5G connection and a flexibly customizable workspace, such as a steering wheel that folds into an ergonomic level for laptops and tablets.
Digital innovation is combined with uncompromising carrying capacity and performance. The load capacity of the E-Transit Custom is up to 1,100 kilograms, and the maximum towing weight is 2,000 kilograms.
The Ford E-Transit Custom electric van is manufactured at the Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey. Production will start in autumn 2023.
Potential Ford E-Transit Custom owners – tiny businesses and private entrepreneurs who also use the van as a family vehicle – don't always drive pre-planned routes from the depot, as is often done with the fleet of larger companies. E-Transit Custom's new efficient electric powertrain is designed to serve the needs of these customers and convince those previously committed to diesel engines that a fully electric powertrain is a future-proof solution that can already work in their business.
The available capacity of the E-Transit Custom's 400-volt battery is 74 kWh. The battery has advanced 81.2 Ah pouch cells, which are also used in the Ford F-150 Lightning. Cellular technology produces 12 percent higher energy density than in E-Transit. The battery enables a range of up to 380 km, which is more than four times more than the average daily driving distance of a ton van, according to Ford Pro customers. The battery is attached directly to the frame, which improves durability and reduces weight for optimal range.
The Ford E-Transit Custom electric van can be purchased with either a 100 kW (135 hp) or 160 kW (217 hp) engine. The torque of both engines is a class-leading 415 Nm. The drive motor is mounted directly on the vehicle's rear floor, which means that a separate subframe is not needed. In addition, it has been rotated 90 degrees to maximize cargo space, reduce weight and simplify the structure.
The Ford E-Transit Custom van has a class-leading towing capacity of up to 2,000 kg. The optional foldable towbar increases ease of use.
E-Transit Custom is the first Ford all-electric car that uses Heat pump technology with a steam jet that is more efficient than a traditional heat pump for heating and cooling the cabin. The system is standard in all vehicles and is also designed for its own part to improve energy efficiency to achieve optimal driving and heating power in cold weather.
The Ford E-Transit Custom electric van has a very energy-efficient brake system and the option to drive with one pedal. The technique combines friction braking and regenerative braking and collects energy when the speed slows down and charges the battery to increase the range. In single-pedal driving mode, the car stops without using the brake pedal.
Fleet management is critical for all businesses. This is especially important in small companies that may not have a full-time fleet and property managers or pit areas for overnight charging. Customers who park and charge their car at home benefit from Ford Pro's expert service, easy installation and maintenance of the wall charger, integration with Ford vehicles, and easy-to-use software that does planning and paying for charging easy.
The Ford E-Transit Custom electric van also supports DC fast charging up to 125 kW so that the charging level can be raised to 15-80 percent in 41 minutes. In laboratory tests, the system reached a range of almost 38 km with a 125 kW charger in just five minutes. Ford Pro buyers have access to the Blue Oval Charging Network, the largest in Europe and growing constantly. There are currently more than 300,000 chargers in the charging network. Every Ford E-Transit electric van comes with a free 12-month subscription to public charging via the Ford Blue Oval Charging Network.
The battery warranty is eight years / 160,000 km and covers all high-voltage components.
According to Ford Pro's research, half of the builders have had tools stolen. To reduce downtime and costs from tool and vehicle theft, the E-Transit Custom features new integrated security cameras and an available Connected Security system that proactively alerts owners to potential threats. Ultrasonic and tilt sensors and door and hood monitoring are linked to cameras built into the cabin and trunk.
The overall height of the Ford E-Transit Custom electric van is now less than two meters, which facilitates access to height-restricted areas, for example, car parks, garages, and underground loading bays. Loading is made even easier by an enormous side door opening.
The design of the Ford E-Transit Custom takes into account the way the owners use their car - even so that the surface materials of the passenger compartment and cargo area have a surface pattern that prevents the adhesion of dirt and water so that it is as stable and safe as possible to drive with wet or muddy boots, but at the same time easy to slide.
Since van drivers often sit alone in the cabin, the new Driver Focus Mode equipment uses sensors to direct the airflow only to the occupied seats. First introduced on the Ford Kuga, the Smart Windshield monitors temperature and humidity and automatically makes small changes in heat and airflow to keep the windshield clear for efficiency and ease of use.
