Big all-electric Ford E-Transit makes debut

Ford has launched a pure-electric Ford E-Transit van that it hopes will appeal to businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.

Featuring a 67kWh lithium-ion battery, Ford claims the new E-Transit –which will be offered across the full range of Transit body styles – can cover up to 350km between top-ups.

Externally, only subtle changes announce the E-Transit's zero-emission credentials, such as blue horizontal bars on the grille, a nose-mounted charging socket and, of course, the 'E-Transit' badging.

Under the bonnet, where you would expect a diesel engine to live, Ford has installed a powerful single electric motor that produces 198kW and 430Nm and drives the rear wheels.

In total, Ford says there's 25 possible configurations that can be ordered with the electric powertrain that include varying lengths and body heights with the option of either a delivery van, utility or cab/chassis.

Choose the traditional delivery van and the Blue Oval says the maximum payload is 1616kg. That's some way off the diesel version's 2209kg maximum, but the cab/chassis can handle up to 1967kg.

Luckily, since the battery is mounted under the body, the Ford E-Transit offers exactly the same cargo bay as the traditional van, with up to 15.1 cubic metres of space available.

As standard, the E-Transit comes with an 11.3kW on-board charger that takes around eight hours for a full charge, but using a 115kW DC charger the EV can be topped up from 15-80 per cent in just 34 minutes.

Catering to tradies, the electric van will also come with a 2.3kW power outlet to run tools and equipment using the E-Transit's battery.

As standard, all E-Transits come with the manufacturer's latest SYNC 4 12.0-inch infotainment system that allows over-the-air updates, voice control and live traffic updates.

New driver assist tech includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot recognition, lane assist and a 360-degree camera system.

Fleet managers will also be able to track the E-Transit using FordPass Connect modem tech.

Instead of launching direct to market, Ford says the E-Transit will undergo trials with large European fleets first, before going on sale elsewhere in early 2022.

Already tested in all conditions and various climates, Ford hopes that as well as the lack of tailpipe emissions, business users will be attracted to the E-Transit's ultra-low running and maintenance costs that are believed to be just a fraction of that of a traditional diesel-powered vehicle.

In Europe, all Ford E-Transits will be sold with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the battery and high-voltage components, plus a one-year unlimited-mileage free servicing package.