Electric vehicles are a source of contention for many, particularly those in the trade with concerns over range and payload capacity. Here to put these worries to rest, is Ford with its E-Transit range, now (thanks to the addition of the Courier) offering a full range of electric commercial vehicles, from a compact city-goer to a classic full-size panel option.
The PB team was lucky enough to be invited to Barcelona to the Powered by Ford Pro event, celebrating this now complete range as well as the Ford Pro software/ ecosystem, giving us a great opportunity to get hands on and behind the wheel.
E-Transit Courier
Small but packing a hefty punch, we got well acquainted with the Courier as we couriered ourselves through the mountainous region surrounding Barcelona for a few hours. While this may not be the average driving experience for a jobbing builder (the latter third trying to navigate the city’s bustling traffic seems more appropriate), this time with the Courier really gave a good feel for the thing on the road. For those unfamiliar with being behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, the experience is decidedly different to its four wheeled combustion engine counterpart. Driving in an EV just feels easy. It’s responsive, quiet and, more than anything, smooth. The aforementioned jaunt through busy Barcelona to get to our destination felt a lot less stressful than I’d anticipated thanks to this calmingly compact blue chariot. Blind spot alerts on both mirrors and the range of on-board safety systems became invaluable in particular, as well as that immediate feedback when you put your foot down.
On the spec side of things, the all-new E-Transit Courier offers up to 300 km of zero-tailpipe emission driving using a 43 kWh battery and 100 kW e-motor. A 700 kg gross payload is on offer with 25% more load space than the previous-generation Transit Courier – with room for two Euro pallets. Total cargo volume is now 2.9 m3. This can be further increased using the new load-through bulkhead feature, which enables customers to carry items such as planks or pipe over 2,600 mm long.
Charging from 10-100% using the van’s 11 kW AC onboard charger takes about 5.3 hours, which, for home charging, can be scheduled to take advantage of cheaper overnight energy using the in-vehicle touchscreen or dedicated charging software. Indeed, Ford Pro offers a home charging solution that includes expert consultation and training, installation and maintenance of a Ford Pro Home Charger, as well as software to make planning and paying for charging easy.
For time-efficient public charging, the vehicle offers DC fast charge capability up to 100 kW – adding approximately 100 km of range in 10 minutes and a 10-80% charge in approximately 23 minutes. The van also comes with a year of complimentary access to the BlueOval Charge Network with more than 36,000 charging points installed in the UK.
The “digiboard” instrument panel contains a 12-inch digital cluster and 12-inch centre touchscreen with Ford’s latest SYNC 4 system. Naturally, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard.
E-Transit
While the E-Transit Courier was something entirely new for the electric scene, one of the range staples has seen a huge upgrade too. The E-Transit – Europe’s best-selling two-tonne electric van – now sports an enhanced range option with a 89 kWh battery for up to 402 km electric driving and faster charging than the 68 kWh standard range variant. Designed for operating on longer routes or supporting higher power needs, the enhanced range E-Transit comes in van and double-cab-in-van body styles, comprehensive length and height configurations – and also as a single chassis-cab. With this new upgrade, 10-minute charge can add up to 116 km of driving range, and a 10-80 per cent charge takes approximately 28 minutes.
What’s more, the enhanced range E-Transit is also equipped as standard with an innovative Vapour-Injected Heat Pump. Designed to improve energy efficiency and optimise range in colder weather, Ford engineers found it can improve the electric van’s driving range between 7% and 10% when compared with a vehicle without a heat pump: a big bonus for our more unpredictable UK climates.
An integrated mobile power source features on the E-Transit too, with a 2.3 kW (10 amp) supply delivered directly from the vehicle battery. This you can charge or power most of your electric hand tools directly from within the cabin or cargo area on the way to a job.
This enhanced E-Transit is also something we got our hands on in Barcelona. Much like the Courier, it was a joy to drive. Thanks to its electric motor and host of smart features, (particular shout out to the constant rear-view camera disguised as a traditional mirror) it doesn’t feel like you’re driving something ungainly. Instead, you’re delivered an almost spaceship-like feel, humming down the road in comfort, almost floating above the traffic.
Choice
The reality is, despite how far EVs have come and how superb this new range from Ford is, electric still won’t be for everyone. The payload on the larger E-Transit for example stands at just 705kg in a L3H2 350 body thanks to the weighty powerful battery. Range anxiety is still prevalent too for those who often travel up and down the country (although we often overestimate our annual mileage). What Ford seems to have understood, is that choice is the best way to go here. As the range and recharge time of EVs continues to improve, Ford is able to offer more and more options to assist with the switch to electric. As an example, while the payload for the E-Transit may be troublesome for some, the E-Transit Custom still sports a gross payload of 1,038kg in the L1H1 variant.
On the flip side, the American giant is still bringing out combustion options and hybrids like the all-new Custom PHEV and Connect PHEV. We got hands on with these too and they’re a brilliant option for those not ready to take the full plunge into EV yet. The Connect in particular features an ingenious FlexCab™ option that allows for seamless transition from extra passengers to pure cargo. Choice is really the key here (there’s 19 model variants for the E-Transit alone) and will be instrumental for the UK’s electrification. Overnight combustion bans from above (looking at you ULEZ) seem ill thought out in favour of encouraging manufacturers like Ford in developing newer technology that encourages the change with a range of options to suite any trade. The carrot will always be preferable to the stick.
For more information on the Ford Transit range visit Ford Commercial Vehicles – Vans & Pick-Ups Range | Ford UK.
