Ford began a new chapter in the legendary SuperVan series today by unveiling the ultra-efficient all-electric Ford Pro Electric SuperVan electric van at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan takes full advantage of electric performance and better connectivity to achieve the most formidable Ford van ever has.
Four electric motors and a 50 kWh liquid-cooled battery produce around 2,000 hp, accelerating the car to 0-100 km / h in less than 2 seconds. Designed to run on the track, Ford Pro Electric SuperVan features components from the recently unveiled E-Transit Custom, a fully electric version of Europe's best-selling van. Performance is complemented by SYNC technology familiar from Ford's production vehicles and additional features designed to control Electric SuperVan's operations.
Better connectivity keeps the driver up to date and enables optimized performance and real-time data transfer for the car's remote control. The vehicle also has similar selectable driving modes and braking energy recovery as Ford electric cars for regular traffic.
Ford Performance and the Austrian STARD electric motorsport experts secretly developed the car. The look was designed by Ford's design team in Cologne, Germany.
Ford's first SuperVan was unveiled in 1971. It had the engine of the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 mounted in the middle. This created a unique Transit Mk. 1. The same formula was used to develop the next SuperVan. Another SuperVan, Transit Mk. The 2-piece fiberglass body hid the monocoque of the 590 hp Ford C100 Cosworth V8 racing car. The Ford SuperVan 3 (Transit Mk. 3) was born from its predecessor and was powered by a 650-horsepower Cosworth HB engine that was also used in Formula 1 cars of that era.
"Now we're bringing Ford SuperVan into the 21st century. The electric car offers a whopping 2,000 horsepower, unparalleled excitement, and a unique style inspired by the new Ford E-Transit Custom. But performance isn't just about horsepower - the Ford Pro Electric SuperVan can also produce real-time data for engineers to optimize performance, just like the best racing cars," says Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports.
"Ford Pro services are about improving customer productivity - so why not create a new all-electric Electric SuperVan that demonstrates the force of electrification and connectivity," says Hans Schep, General Manager, Ford Pro, Europe. "This amazing car takes E-Transit Custom's advanced technology and unique look to a new level and is a super-fast proof of the power of the Ford Pro's connected services ecosystem." The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor will also make its European debut.
The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan has been produced in just one unit, and Ford's design team was given the freedom to create a look that captures attention and reflects the car's extreme performance. The unique look of the model is due to, among other things, impressive ring arcs, muscular style, and unique coloring. In addition, the all-electric transmission allowed the development team more freedom to implement compared to internal combustion engines.
"Being able to be part of the story of the iconic SuperVan and imagine what it could look like in the 21st century was an opportunity of dreams," says Amko Leenarts, Director, Design, Ford of Europe. "SuperVan's fourth model is designed to be the fastest and most extreme, yet retain Transit's DNA. The proportions are more dramatic than in the Ford E-Transit Custom we designed, and the light bar that spans the entire bow creates a futuristic look for the car."
The structure designed for SuperVan's motorsports combines E-Transit Custom's base plate and lightweight composite body structures. The unique 50 kWh liquid-cooled battery is installed to achieve optimal weight distribution and low center of gravity. The 50 kWh liquid-cooled battery can be fully charged in about 45 minutes using a standard charger for electric cars. The driver can monitor the charge and battery status from the touch screen in the cab.
The four electric motors of the four-wheel-drive Ford Pro Electric SuperVan together produce about 2,000 horsepower. As a result, the van accelerates from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour at an astonishing rate in less than two seconds, making it both the fastest and cleanest SuperVan ever.
As with any good van, the Electric SuperVan has a load compartment behind the driver. Loading and unloading are accessible through the side door, and Ford is developing an electromagnetic opening system that can be operated via a SYNC display.
The car has several built-in cameras that allow audiences worldwide to participate in SuperVan performance during impressive track runs. As with the Ford E-Transit, the driver sees the camera input on the cab screen and can decide which camera image to use to control the car, especially in tight spaces.
The influences from motorsport on Ford Performance and STARD are immediately visible in the car; the dramatically shaped air distributor in the front, side skirts, and rear diffuser could also be found in a race car. Radically shaped stern cuts and a back flap direct air into the rear wing, improving SuperVan's downforce and grip on the track
The influences from motorsports also continue under the basket. For example, each corner of the car has double support arms of different lengths. In addition, the front and rear subframes, uprights, and brakes of the motorsport level guarantee the braking and steering ability required at enormous straight speeds.
The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan's cab features FIA-compliant roll bars, racing seats, and a large SYNC touch screen, also available in Ford production cars, to control advanced connectivity and infotainment systems. If necessary, drivers can plan a route via the SYNC screen, search for a charger, connect to WiFi, and make calls.
Through the touch screen, it is also possible to select the most suitable driving mode for the current situation in the Electric SuperVan, which affects the car's torque, braking energy recovery, and reaction.
Performance is enhanced by an electronics package that includes traction control, Launch Control, a depot band speed limiter, and three-stage regenerative braking to restore energy to the battery - just as the Ford E-Transit works in the L position. When running at low speeds, ECO mode optimizes engines and turns regenerative braking to the maximum. In addition, the Ford E-Boost button temporarily provides more power and torque to reach maximum speed.
Exciting driving shows can be expected, thanks to the Tire Cleaning option. This new feature brakes one axle and rotates the other simultaneously. This allows the tires to be burned spectacularly on both the front and rear axles, helping to clean and warm the tires before driving.
Like modern race cars - and Ford vans - the Ford Electric SuperVan can send real-time data for remote vehicle control, allowing engineers on the Ford Performance track to monitor Electric SuperVan from purpose-built software that provides real-time information on speed, lap times, and care systems.
In addition to showcasing Ford's advanced electric car and connectivity expertise, Electric SuperVan is a high-speed scientific experiment. The car's demanding driving situations and unlimited design concept allow Ford to push the boundaries of electric car design and connectivity to improve its future race cars, vehicles, software, and services for regular traffic.
At Goodwood, Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is driven by Romain Dumas, tasked with completely releasing Electric SuperVan's performance. Dumas' merits in traditional and electric motorsports are second to none; he has set records in the hill climbs of Goodwood and Pikes Peak. He also holds a lap record on the scary Nordschleife track, where he has won four 24-hour races at the Nürburgring. Dumas' diverse motorsport experience includes a Le Mans 24 Hours record, an FIA World Endurance Championship title, and a class win in the Monte Carlo Rally.
