E-Transit a boon to city deliveries

AS PART of Ford Motor Company’s program to electrify its entire fleet of passenger and light commercial vehicles by 2030, the venerable Transit Custom van’s turn to get zapped comes around in 2024.

It’s relatively early position in the transformation program to EV is due to excessive diesel van emissions in Europe where vans are the dominant form of delivery vehicle and a huge source of tailpipe smoke and other nasties.

Apart from existing models already on the road, ICE powered Transits, specifically the smaller Custom model will disappear in quick time after the advent of the E-Transit Custom. Ford is “forward talking” E-Transit communicating it will: “soon introduce the van for which small businesses have been waiting.”

But that time is two years away best-case scenario.

It’s probably worth the wait as the new all-electric E-Transit Custom is, according to Ford info’, “designed from the ground up to deliver new levels of productivity to customers in the one-tonne van segment as well as cut emissions.”

Ford Australia says the E-Transit Custom forms part of the brand’s plan for at least five electrified vehicles in showrooms by the end of 2024.

The giant (somewhat shrinking) car-maker says it “brought the global power of its research, engineering and software capabilities to bear on E-Transit Custom, combining advanced electric vehicle technology and services to help businesses work more effectively, and simplify the transition to electric vehicles.”

After consultation with small and medium business, Ford will offer E-Transit Custom with innovative customer ‘experiences’ based on cloud connectivity and digital technologies.

Next-generation battery technology to be used in E-Transit Custom enables a targeted range of 380kmand 124kW fast-charging ability so based on this, the van should deliver impressive performance for a range of customer needs.

Optionally, E-Transit cabin can be up-specced as a business hub with a flexible workspace including smart features like a steering wheel that tilts to become an ergonomic holder for laptops and tablets or a table to eat from.

Digital innovation in the vehicle is combined with decent load carrying and capability. E-Transit Custom delivers a 100mm lower load floor for easier access, has independent rear suspension and motor power that help deliver a new level of driving experience for operators.

E-Transit Custom’s new EV powertrain was designed to help small business and independent tradespeople – potentially previous diesel van users to support their needs – to make the switch to electric.

“Our customers made Transit Custom the most popular commercial vehicle in Europe, and we’ve listened to those customers for well over 50 years,” said Ford Motor Company president and CEO Jim Farley.

“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.”

E-Transit Custom’s 400-volt, 74 kWh useable battery pack uses advanced 81.2Ah pouch cells shared with the Ford F-150 Lightning. The battery enables a targeted range of up to 380km. The battery’s direct-to-body mounting improves durability and reduces weight for optimum range.

Australian-spec vehicles will offer a 160kW motor that delivers 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 load space and reduce weight and complexity.

E-Transit Custom uses a vapour-injected heat pump technology to heat and cool the cabin, fitted as standard to all vehicles. This new system is designed to deliver improved energy efficiency for optimum driving range.

A new brake-by-wire system enables increased range and delivers one-pedal driving capability. The system blends friction braking with regenerative braking that harvests energy during deceleration to top up the battery for extra driving range. Drivers can stop the van without using the brake pedal when in one-pedal drive mode.

The system is designed to use the friction brakes frequently enough to prevent the discs from rusting or pitting.

E-Transit Custom’s 11kW AC three-phase on board charger is capable of fully recharging the battery in 7.2 hours, so customers will be able recharge overnight after a shift.

E-Transit Custom also supports DC fast charging up to 124kW 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 38km of range in just five minutes using a 124kW charger.

Because every small business’ van is their billboard, E-Transit Custom’s confident stance, revised proportions and full LED exterior lighting with distinctive light bar sets a new design benchmark for the appearance of one-tonne vans.

To maximise range, the flat floor, honeycomb grille, wind-cheating wheel designs and 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.

The load floor has been lowered by 100mm compared to the outgoing Transit Custom, 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.

As a long wheelbase panel van with a maximum load length of 3450mm, E-Transit Custom offers load volumes of 6.8 cubic metres, or 9.0 cubic metres with the high roof option.

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 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, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist, Wrong Way Alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.

The cab is more spacious cab and has increased secure storage compared to the outgoing model. The column-mounted gear 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.

The van is fitted with a 13.0-inch landscape touchscreen angled towards the driver for ease of use, as well as Ford’s advanced SYNC 4 communication and infotainment system.

As van drivers often occupy the cabin alone, a new Driver Focus Mode option uses sensors to direct airflow only to occupied seats.

An “intelligent” windscreen 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.

All Transit Custom variants will be built by Ford Otosan – the company’s joint venture in Turkey.