The new Ford E-Transit Custom has been unveiled, having been designed from the ground up.
The Ford E-Transit Custom boasts next-generation battery technology enables a targeted range of 236 miles and 125kW fast charging ability.
Ford suggests the new E-Transit Custom will deliver lower operating costs compared to an equivalent diesel vehicle; for its E-Transit, the reduction in servicing cost of ownership can be as much as 40 per cent.
Meanwhile, in the cab, 5G connectivity and a steering wheel that folds to become a table and also new innovations.
Jim Farley, president and CEO at Ford Motor Company, said: “Our customers made Transit Custom the most popular commercial vehicle in Europe, and we’ve listened to those customers for well over 50 years.
“The new E-Transit Custom was designed and engineered to meet their needs – a Transit for the new era, but one that can still get its hands dirty when a job needs doing.”
The Ford E-Transit Custom delivers payloads up to 1,100kg, a lower load floor with easier access, and maximum towing capacity of 2,000kg.
Independent rear suspension and class-leading motor power help deliver a new level of driving experience for customers.
Ford E-Transit Custom range
E-Transit Custom’s 400-volt, 74kWh useable battery pack uses advanced 82Ah pouch cells shared with the Ford F-150 Lightning to deliver 12 per cent more energy density than the E‑Transit.
The battery enables a targeted range of up to 236 miles – over four times the average one-tonne van driver’s daily mileage, according to Ford Pro customer data.
The battery’s direct‑to‑body mounting improves durability and reduces weight for optimum range.
Customers can choose from 100kW or 160kW (135PS or 217PS) motor power outputs to suit their needs, each offering a class-leading 415Nm of torque.
The drive motor is fitted directly to the vehicle’s rear floor, removing the need for a dedicated subframe, and is rotated 90 degrees to maximise loadspace and reduce weight and complexity.
The powerful electric drivetrain delivers a class-leading towing capacity of up to 2,000kg, meaning E-Transit Custom could replace diesel vehicles in roles that no other all-electric van can match.
An optional retractable towbar can be fitted for more convenience.
E-Transit Custom’s 11kW AC three-phase onboard charger is capable of fully recharging the battery in 7.8 hours, so customers will be able recharge overnight after a shift.
E-Transit Custom also supports DC fast charging up to 125kW for a 15-80 per cent recharge in 41 minutes.
A new charge profile front-loads the energy to enable quick, useful top-ups; in lab testing, the system delivered almost 24 miles of range in just 5 minutes using a 125kW charger.
Ford Pro customers can access the Blue Oval Charging Network – Europe’s largest, with over 300,000 chargers and growing – and every E‑Transit Custom is sold with a 12-month complimentary subscription to access public charging via the Blue Oval Charging Network.
An eight-year, 100,000 miles warranty covers all high-voltage components, offering peace of mind for outright buyers and optimum residual values for lease customers and those who de-fleet before eight years of ownership.
Ford E-Transit Custom review
The new Ford E‑Transit Custom has a confident stance, rebalanced proportions and full LED exterior lighting with distinctive light bar sets a new design benchmark for one-tonne vans.
To maximise range, the flat floor, unique honeycomb grille, wind-cheating wheel designs and even rear light cluster shapes were developed using more than 800 different aerodynamic simulations, delivering a CdA improvement of more than 10 per cent compared to the previous-generation Transit Custom. 9
The vehicle’s load floor is lower than the outgoing model, to make loading cargo and accessing the cab easier.
Engineers comprehensively analysed packaging, materials, safety and weight to deliver an architecture that integrates the battery into the load floor above the sill flange, eliminating the need for separate crash structures.
Other underbody components are “shrink-wrapped” around the battery for optimum space and weight efficiency.
E-Transit Custom’s overall height is now under two metres to help access in height-restricted areas such as multi-storey car parks, garages, and underground loading bays.
A class‑leading side load door aperture enhances loading, and a new access step makes climbing up to the load compartment even easier.
LOAD VOLUME: As a panel van, the Ford E-Transit Custom offers load volumes from 5.8 to 9.0m3, with payload up to 1,100kg 3 and a maximum load length of 3,450mm.
Double-cab-in-van and kombi body styles are also available, all with a choice of short or long wheelbase and low or high roof.
As on the larger E-Transit, all E-Transit Custom vans are fitted with semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension to contribute towards the lower floor height and to improve steering precision, handling and traction.
The front wheels and strut towers have also been moved further forward, resulting in much better cross-cab access, improved foot space and footrests for occupants in the front, as well as a shorter front overhang for more confident parking and manoeuvring.
E-Transit Custom’s standard suite of driver assistance systems include Pre-Collision Assist, Lane-Keeping System, Driver Alert, Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist, Wrong Way Alert, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
Ford E-Transit interior
The Ford E-Transit Custom offers a more spacious cab and increased secure storage compared to the outgoing model.
The column-mounted shifter, electronic handbrake and “squircle” steering wheel combine to help cross-cab access – a valuable feature for drivers who park in tight areas and want to avoid getting out into live traffic.
Ford is also introducing a segment-first roof-mounted airbag that enables dashboard storage large enough to take a laptop or A4 file, as well as increase flexibility for upfit panels and devices which can now be fitted closer to the driver using industry-standard AMPS mountings.
Every E-Transit Custom is fitted with a 13‑inch landscape touchscreen angled towards the driver for ease of use, equipped with Ford’s advanced SYNC 4 10 communication and infotainment system powered by a new 5G modem for superfast connectivity to the Ford Pro tech stack.
Ford designers went to such lengths when considering how owners would use E-Transit Custom that even the grains on materials used in the cabin and load area are designed to use textures that avoid trapping dirt and water, giving the best balance between offering a firm footing for wet or muddy boots and enabling heavy items to be slid in and out easily.
An intelligent windscreen, first introduced on the Ford Kuga SUV, monitors temperature and humidity, and automatically makes small heat and airflow changes to proactively keep the windscreen clear for improved efficiency and ease of use.
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