All-electric Ford Transit Custom locked in for Australia too

Ford has confirmed its second all-electric vehicle for Australia – the Ford E-Transit Custom, which enters production in the second half of next year but will not be seen Down Under until 2024.

That means the 2024 Ford E-Transit Custom commercial van will arrive about 18 months after Ford Australia’s first EV – the larger 2022 Ford E-Transit that was originally due around mid-2022 but is now coming later in the second half of this year.

The battery-electric E-Transit Custom is also the third confirmed model from the five electrified vehicles Ford has promised to have on sale here by the end of 2024, joining the long-awaited 2022 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that finally enters showrooms this month.

A conventional self-charging hybrid version of the Escape is also anticipated, handing Ford a direct rival for the top-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Other potential electrified candidates from the Blue Oval brand include the Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover, Ford F-150 Lightning pick-up (as part of a new local F-Series right-hand drive conversion program from mid-2023) and mild-hybrid versions of the new-generation Ford Ranger ute and the related Ford Everest large SUV – both of which have been confirmed as being under development.

Both the new Ranger and Everest are also ‘package-protected’ for plug-in hybrid and full-electric powertrains.

Beyond the Mustang Mach-E, Ford of Europe confirmed in March that it would launch three other all-electric passenger vehicles by 2024: a pure-electric version of the Ford Puma small SUV, a still-secret new mid-size SUV and a smaller “sport crossover”.

Ford has released few details for the incoming E-Transit Custom, saying that further information will be released in September this year.

It has, however, promised that the battery-powered one-tonne van – to be built alongside conventional variants at the Ford Otosan facility in Turkey – will be a “no-compromise, all-electric commercial vehicle … [that will] offer compelling range, full towing capability and DC fast-charging”.

The company also says the E-Transit Custom “is designed to set a new benchmark in the one-tonne van segment and help businesses to effortlessly make the change to electrified vehicles”.

Part of this will come through “rebalanced proportions, a confident stance and full LED lighting” – and the intention that the van “will set a distinctive new design benchmark in the segment”.

The larger E-Transit van uses a 198kW/430Nm electric motor and draws energy from a 68kWh battery that provides a driving range of up to 317km on the WLTP cycle.

“The E-Transit Custom is exactly the kind of versatile, practical van business customers are looking for, with the benefit of zero-emissions efficiency,” said Ford Australia chief Andrew Birkic today.

“We are focused on deeply understanding the needs of commercial vehicle customers and bringing them the best of our global line-up.”

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