FORD is to introduce the new E-Transit van, a smart workhorse that will offer customers enhanced productivity enabled by its fully electric powertrain, software solutions, services and Pro Power Onboard options.

Ford has been making Transit family vehicles for 55 years and commercial vehicles since 1905 and the company will build E‑Transits for European customers at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli plant in Turkey on a dedicated line alongside the award-winning Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid.

E-Transit is part of Ford’s more than $11.5 billion global investment in electrification through 2022. The all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E will be in European dealerships from early next year and the fully electric F‑150 starts hitting North American dealers in mid-2022.

With a usable battery capacity of 67kWh, E-Transit offers an estimated driving range of up to 217 miles on the combined WLTP cycle, providing enough range to meet daily requirements, but with sufficient additional capacity to account for variations in vehicle load and weather conditions.

E-Transit’s drive modes are tailored to its electric powertrain. A special Eco Mode aims to provide up to an 8-10 per cent improvement in energy usage if E-Transit is driven unladen with spirited acceleration or at highway speeds, according to Ford data. Eco Mode limits top speed, regulates acceleration and optimises climate control to help maximise the available driving range.

E-Transit not only helps companies operate more sustainably, it offers clear business advantages. E-Transit can reduce service cost of ownership by approximately 40 per cent compared with internal combustion engine-equipped models, as a result of lower maintenance expenses.

Ford will also offer a variety of charging solutions to fit fleet and driver needs, whether at home, at a place of business or on the road.

E-Transit features both AC charging and DC fast-charging. The vehicle’s 11.3kW on-board charger is capable of delivering a 100 per cent charge in up to 8.2 hours. Charging with up to 115kW using a high-power DC fast-charger, E-Transit can top-up the battery from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in around 34 minutes.

E-Transit features optional Pro Power Onboard, which enables customers to transform the vehicle into a mobile power source, providing up to 2.3kW for powering tools and equipment on the jobsite and on the go. This is an industry first for light commercial vehicles in Europe.

Ford will be undertaking extensive customer fleet trials with E-Transit in key European markets, starting during 2021.