Ford Pro revealed a new extended range option for the E-Transit, enhancing the capability of the top-selling large electric van in Europe, which last year outsold its nearest competitor by more than five to one.
The latest introduction – rolling out to customers around the globe – builds on Ford Pro’s 2024 Transit digital productivity upgrades and significantly broadens the potential customer base for E-Transit. The new model features an 89 kWh useable battery capacity for a maximum driving range of up to 402 km, as well as faster AC and DC charging performance. 3 Customers also benefit from extended two-year/unlimited distance service intervals – double the current one-year interval.
Like all E-Transit commercial vehicles, the extended range model is fully integrated with the Ford Pro platform of connected charging and software solutions to help customers optimise energy management, streamline servicing, and minimise downtime and cost of ownership.
The extended range E-Transit is designed to appeal especially to customers who operate in rural regions, colder climates, or on routes involving highway driving. The powertrain will also complement converted vehicles with additional weight and auxiliary power needs. Customers will be able to order the new model later this year, with initial deliveries expected in 2025.
Enhanced electric performance
The extended range option for E-Transit increases useable battery capacity to 89 kWh for a driving range of up to 402 km – 28 per cent more than an equivalent standard range model. 2 This enhanced capability is introduced to make the extended range E-Transit a compelling option for fleets that operate beyond city centres but still want to benefit from the accelerated productivity of electric, connected commercial vehicles.
A vapour-injected heat pump is standard on the extended range option to heat the cabin more efficiently in low temperatures. The system is similar to that on E-Transit Custom – the first-ever electric vehicle to use the technology – and is designed to improve energy efficiency and optimise range in colder weather.
Ford engineers have significantly enhanced E-Transit’s charging performance for every extended range model. Maximum AC charge capability has been increased from 11 kW to 22 kW, meaning a full overnight charge is targeted to take under six hours. DC fast charging capability has been increased from 115 kW to 180 kW, so that a 10-minute charge can add up to 116 km of driving range, and a 10-80 per cent charge takes approximately 28 minutes.
Ford Pro’s end-to-end solutions for depot, home and public charging include hardware installation and maintenance, as well as intelligent software to help customers manage charging for optimum efficiency and uptime. Fleet managers can easily track charging performance and energy efficiency for each of their vehicles using Ford Pro Telematics software, as well as set charging windows to take advantage of cheaper energy tariffs, lock chargers to prevent unauthorised use, and pre-condition E-Transit’s battery for maximum driving range.
In addition to optimising energy management, fleet managers can also oversee their entire fleet in one system with Ford Pro Telematics’ dashboards and insights, which are compatible with mixed fleets including electric, plug-in hybrid and combustion-powered vehicles, as well as non-Ford models. Ford Pro tools can also help customers to quickly identify which vehicle use cases in their business could be replaced like-for-like with electric Transit models.
Ford Pro expects that the increased capability of E-Transit extended range will appeal to customers with a wide range of use cases and requirements, so the company is offering a comprehensive choice of 19 model variants including L3 and L4 lengths, van, double-cab-in-van and single chassis cab body styles, with GVMs from 3,500 kg to 4,250 kg. Maximum payload is up to 1,460 kg for vans and 1,814 kg for chassis cab variants, with towing weight up to 750 kg for models with 3,500 kg GVM. Pro Power Onboard is also available to deliver 2.3 kW of exportable power from the vehicle battery to run tools, equipment and conversions.
The extended range E-Transit benefits from the same productivity-boosting digital features that Ford Pro announced across the 2024 Transit line-up:
– 5G modem as standard for superfast connectivity on-the-go
– Wireless software update capability for multiple vehicle modules
– Innovative new Vehicle Integration System for conversion control via the SYNC screen
– Alexa Built-in personal AI
– Delivery Assist technology designed to help save up to 20 seconds per stop – more than an hour a day
In addition, both standard and extended range E-Transit models from the 2024 line-up benefit from a new two-year/unlimited distance service interval to help reduce service cost of ownership for businesses. This is a major upgrade over the current one-year/unlimited distance interval.
Since launch in June 2022, E-Transit has been the best-selling two-tonne electric van in Europe, achieving over 55 per cent market share in 2023.
New E-Transit minibus model
Ford Pro is also enhancing the E-Transit line-up with a new factory-supported electric minibus conversion.
The new offering is designed to support customers such as taxi firms, schools and local authorities as they electrify their fleets and futureproof their operations in response to tightening regulations and the introduction of over 350 low-emission zones already in place across Europe – including in every capital city in the European Union.
The new model can seat up to 15 people and is based on an E-Transit L3 window van with 4,250 kg GVM, converted in Türkiye by seating specialists ISRI. Customers can specify a single or double front passenger seat, nine- or 12-seat rear layout and standard or high roof options. Air conditioning, rear cabin heating and a powered side step are all standard.
Available direct from Ford dealers, the new minibus model can be specified with standard or extended range batteries for the nine-seat rear layout, and standard range battery for the 12-seat rear layout.
Ford Pro Special Vehicles is also investigating providing the donor E-Transit window van through its 200-strong Ford Pro Convertor network for more specialist conversions, such as wheelchair-accessible transport.
