The whole world is talking about electrification and zero emissions, and many of us are amazed by the results that have been achieved in the last few years. What about electrifying vans and commercial vehicles? How wonderful would that be for the environment!
One of the few companies that have been working on mass-producing electrified commercial vehicles for a long time is the Blue Oval company. The great news is that they’re now coming out with the Ford e-Transit.
From what we’ve read from various sources, the new model will share many parts with its conventional sibling. The chassis and the overall design will be shared with standard Transit models, and it looks like Ford has already prepared a variety of versions with all-electric powertrain.
At this point, those are only cargo variants of the van, but all-electric passenger versions should appear one of these days as well.
Ford Transit in Australia
The Transit is one of Ford's oldest nameplates, used since 1965 when the first generation was introduced. This model was offered in Australia in 1973 for the first time, and it was available until 1981. After 13 years of hiatus, the Ford EV van came back in 1994 with the second-generation design and remained active until 2000. Fortunately, there were no more breaks, and the third generation came right after. It was in production for 13 years.
The fourth and current generation of this model has been around since 2013, and it is still in production. It is one of the most popular commercial vehicles in the country, and one of the reasons is that it comes in numerous versions regarding wheelbase, roof height, transmission, and so on.
Besides the commercial version, the Blue Oval company also offers a passenger variant and a ute version. At this point, the Ford e-Transit comes with just one diesel engine on the offer, which features a max output of 125 kW and 390 Nm of max torque. On the other hand, you can choose between versions with a 6-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
Ford e-Transit Is Ready for the UK and North America
The all-electric version of the well-known van is on the way. Versions for the UK market and North America have already been confirmed, and from what we know so far, there will be several versions regarding wheelbase and roof height. The Ford e-Transit should hit these markets by the end of 2021, so we could see it down already in 2022, but Ford executives are still quiet on this matter.
So far, eight variants have been confirmed. The offer will start with the Cutaway version, which measures 4521mm in wheelbase. The Chassis Cab version will feature the same wheelbase but should be slightly more expensive.
Cargo versions will share dimensions and layouts with models that use internal-combustion engines. So, the regular wheelbase model will feature around 3300 millimetres between the axles and come in two variants regarding roof height – Low and Medium.
On the other hand, the long-wheelbase model, which measures 3749 mm between the axles, will be available in four variants – Low Roof, Medium Roof, High Roof, and Extended Length High Roof.
At this point, there is no word about a passenger version of the Ford EV van, but that doesn't mean that we won't be seeing it someday.
Ford e-Transit Pricing in North America
The Blue Oval company has already announced the pricing for the new Ford e-Transit in North America. Although the prices will probably be notably different Down Under, these numbers can give us a relatively clear picture of what to expect, especially compared to ICE versions. Please note that the following prices are displayed in US dollars:
- e-Transit Cutaway: $43,295
- e-Transit Chassis Cab: $43,825
- e-Transit Cargo Van Low Roof Regular Wheelbase: $47,185
- e-Transit Cargo Van Low Roof Long Wheelbase: $48,395
- e-Transit Cargo Van Medium Roof Regular Wheelbase: $48,280
- e-Transit Cargo Van Medium Roof Long Wheelbase: $49,490
- e-Transit Cargo Van High Roof Long Wheelbase: $51,530
- e-Transit Cargo Van High Roof Long Wheelbase Extended Length: $52,690
Ford e-Transit Design
As it was already mentioned, the Ford e-Transit shares the platform and most of the parts, with standard diesel- and petrol-powered versions of the Transit. Moreover, it was built in the same plant in North America, located in Kansas City.
The suspension setup is primarily the same, with a classic McPherson strut at the front and leaf springs on the rear end. All wheels come with classic disc brakes.
That may sound a little bit rudimentary to some, but such a setup is the main reason why this van features a max payload capacity of over 1.5 tons in most of its variants. At this point, the max payload for the all-electric version is still a mystery.
The interior layout is also pretty much the same. However, there are a few exciting upgrades, such as a large 12.3-inch touchscreen, which comes with the new SYNC4 infotainment system, which will be standard in higher grades and optional in lower grades. Still, we presume that conventional, internal-combustion models will get these updates soon.
Drivetrain and Battery
Mustang Mach E battery & motor
The Ford e-Transit comes with some interesting technical solutions, especially in terms of the drivetrain. The electric motor and the battery are borrowed from the new Mustang Mach E. As you would expect, the battery is located under the floor.
On the other hand, the centre-mounted electric motor seems quite atypical, especially if we consider that the power is sent to the rear wheels only. We presume that this was the best way to keep the cargo area intact.
Speaking of the power, the e-Transit uses the same electric motor as the Mustang Mach E, which features a max output of 198 kilowatts and 430 Nm of max torque. That’s notably more power than the current version of the Australian Transit, which comes with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that puts around 125 kW and 390 Nm of torque. Does this mean higher payload capacity? We should find out soon.
The battery is also the same one found in Mach E, with a capacity of 67 kWh.
What is the range of the E-transit?
Considering that we are talking about a pretty large vehicle for carrying relatively heavy loads, it looks like the battery capacity of 67 kWh doesn't sound very impressive. From what we can hear from the Ford officials, the max range will go 200 kilometres.
Do you have a used Ford Transit and want to sell it? If so, you can register on our website and find more interested buyers.
By Nebojsa Grmusa