Ford E-Transit coming to Aus

The Ford E-Transit delivery van will be the first zero emissions electric vehicle the blue oval will sell in Australia when it launches here around mid-2022.

It will be one of at least five electrified models Ford has promised to have on-sale in Australia by the end of 2024 and it will be beaten into dealerships only by the delayed plug-in hybrid Escape medium SUV that is now scheduled for the second quarter of 2022.

Other potential electrified candidates for Australia include the Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning , Mondeo Evos and plug-in hybrid versions of the next-generation Ranger ute and Everest SUV.

“We are accelerating our electrified future in Australia,” said Andrew Birkic, president and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand.

“We are anticipating the needs of each type of customer and bringing the best of our global line-up to meet those requirements.

“For business customers, E-Transit delivers the durability and capability they need to serve their customers, along with zero-emissions efficiency.”

While pricing has yet to be confirmed, the E-Transit will initially come to Australia in a rear-wheel drive 420L long wheelbase configuration that does not have an exact diesel Transit equivalent.

Liming up very close but with a smaller Gross Vehicle Mass is the 2.0-litre diesel 350L rear-wheel drive Transit that retails from $51,590 plus on-road costs.

The E-Transit has a usable battery capacity of 68kWh and offers an estimated driving range of up to 317kms on the combined WLTP cycle. It ekes out its longest range in its most efficient Eco mode.

The electric motor has a peak output of 198kW and 430Nm of torque, which will make it the most powerful Transit available in Australia.

E-Transit includes 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. Lift-off power regeneration is always on but can be varied in its intensity.

Cargo capacity is up to 11.3 cubic metres in mid-roof specification and 12.4 cubic metres for the high roof version, both of which are identical to the Transit 350L RWD diesel.

That’s aided by mounting the lithium-ion battery pack under the floor and a new independent rear suspension.

Gross vehicle mass of up to 4.2 tonnes is offered, with a targeted payload of 1616kg.

The E-Transit will be covered by Ford’s five-year unlimited kilometre service offering that sits alongside the eight-year, 160,000 km warranty package for the battery and high-voltage electric components.

The E-Transit was first revealed in November 2020 and recently started customer trials in Europe as both a van and cab/chassis.

The E-Transit will compete with the recently-released Fuso eCanter electric truck in the light-duty (3500-8000kg GVM) commercial vehicle segment.

The diesel Transit which E-Transit sits alongside, is the fourth generation of the commercial vehicle family that can trace its origins back to 1965. First launched in 2013, it was updated in late 2019.

It is sold in Australia as a van, bus, cab/chassis and smaller Transit Custom, which is a Toyota HiAce rival. A 2021.75 Transit update is due this month (October).

All E-Transits would be fitted with the manufacturer's latest SYNC 4 12.0-inch infotainment system that allows over-the-air updates, voice control and live traffic updates.

When first announced late last year, Ford revealed all E-Transits would also come with a 2.3kW power outlet to run tools and equipment using the E-Transit's battery.

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

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