Ford E-Transit to be available in as many as 8 configurations [Update]

Revealed in November 2020, the Ford E-Transit becomes the first-ever all-electric cargo van from a North American carmaker. It is a part of Ford’s USD 11.5 billion global investment in electrification through 2022.

The Ford E-Transit is available in as many as 8 configurations, including three options for the height and three for the length. Plus, there are chassis cab and cutaway models on offer. All the variants of the E-Transit will feature powerful electric motors with an output of at least 266 hp (198 kW).  

Design

Although the Ford E-Transit looks almost identical to the ICE-powered counterpart, a few details set the green version apart. For instance, the front-end features blue accents on the upper grille, which in turn holds the charging flap. There’s also an ‘E-Transit’ badge on the rear door, but other than these small updates, the electric van looks exactly like its gasoline-powered counterpart. 

Ford E-Transit Interior

Initially, the E-Transit will be available only in a cargo van avatar, which means its cabin will be highly utilitarian will rubberized flooring, plastic door trim, and cloth upholstery for the seats. Compared to the ICE-sibling, the electric version will feature a rotary shift knob instead of the gear lever. Cargo space will remain as plentiful as ever with the extended-wheelbase model with the high roof configuration offering a cargo space of 487 cubic feet.

All the variants will feature a 12.0-inch infotainment system instead of the 4.0-inch unit on the regular version. The unit carries SYNC4 OS, and an on-board 4G LTE modem will provide a WiFi hotspot. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are expected to be offered as standard features.

Specifications

Powering the E-Transit is a single electric motor capable of outputting 266 hp (198 kW) of maximum power and 430 Nm of maximum torque. It sends power to the rear wheels. 0-60mph timings are yet to be revealed, but we believe the E-Transit would be a peppy performer thanks to instantaneous torque. Ford has revealed that the suspension system is updated for the electric variant to offer better handling characteristics. The electric motor draws juice from a 67 kWh battery pack that offers a claimed driving range of 126 miles (202.8 km) per Ford’s projection for the U.S. market.

Release Date

Ford will begin production of the E-Transit in the next few weeks, James Farley Jr., the company’s President and CEO, said during its Q3 2021 earnings conference call on October 27, 2021. Farley Jr. also said that the company has sold out the entire inventory of the E-Transit before it even launches the model in the market. Deliveries of the E-Transit will begin in early 2022.

We have 3 complete hits on our hands, a Mach-E with 200,000 units of demand. That’s — we have the Lightning with over 160,000 orders, and the E-Transit is completely sold out.

James Farley Jr., President and CEO, Ford (Q3 2021 earnings conference call on October 27, 2021)

Ford E-Transit pilot program

Before commencing sales of the E-Transit in the U.S., Ford is testing the van under a pilot program. The company has delivered pre-production units of the E-Transit to companies like Penske Truck Leasing and National Grid.

Ford’s key customers will test the E-Transit across a wide range of vocational use cases. The pilot program would involve testing the E-Transit in service, maintenance, telecom, and many other sectors. The feedback and data will become useful in validating the EV’s real-world performance in various use cases, upfits, temperatures, and driving environments would help it fine-tune and make the E-Transit ready for mass-market deliveries.

Penske Truck Leasing wants to evaluate and validate the E-Transit for rentals to small- and medium-sized commercial businesses, although that might not be the only application it is considering. It has deployed an E-Transit van in Reading, Pennsylvania.

National Grid has taken delivery of a preproduction low-roof E-Transit cargo van. The company will test it on regular home meter-reading routes to understand if it is capable of performing the same operations as its gas-powered vehicles.

Ford E-Transit FAQs

Featured Image: Ford