Ford Australia has confirmed the one-tonne E-Transit Custom will be one of five electrified vehicles in dealer showrooms by the end of 2024.
Inspired by small and medium business insights, Ford says the E-Transit Custom offers innovative customer experiences based on cloud connectivity and digital technologies.
The E-Transit Custom will offer an all-electric driving range of up to 380 km and 124kW fast-charging ability.
As an optional feature, the cab is also a flexible workspace including features such as a steering wheel that tilts to become an ergonomic holder for laptops and tablets.
The digital E-Transit Custom delivers a 100 mm lower load floor for easier access and its new EV powertrain was designed to help small businesses and independent tradespeople – who previously relied on diesel powertrains – to make the switch to electric.
The E-Transit Custom’s 400-volt, 74 kWh useable battery pack uses 81.2 Ah pouch cells shared with the Ford F-150 Lightning. The battery enables a targeted range of up to 380 km. The battery’s direct-to-body mounting improves durability and reduces weight for optimum range.
Australian-spec vehicles will offer a 160-kW motor that delivers 415 Nm 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.
The 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 mode3. The system is designed to use the friction brakes frequently enough to prevent the discs from rusting or pitting.
The E-Transit Custom’s 11 kW AC three-phase onboard charger is capable of fully recharging the battery in 7.2 hours, so customers will be able recharge overnight after a shift. It 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 38 km of range in just 5 minutes using a 124kW charger.
To further maximise range, Ford says the flat floor, unique honeycomb grille, wind-cheating wheel designs and even rear light cluster shapes were developed using more than 800 different aerodynamic simulations, delivering a CdA improvement of more than 10% compared to the previous-generation Transit Custom.
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 3,450 mm, the E-Transit Custom offers load volumes of 6.8 cubic metres, or 9.0 cubic metres with the high roof option.
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.
Ford says the new E-Transit Custom offers a more spacious cab and 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.
Every E-Transit Custom is fitted with a 13-inch landscape touchscreen angled towards the driver for ease of use, as well as Ford’s SYNC 4 communication and infotainment system.
Ford says that its designers went to such lengths when considering how owners would use E-Transit Custom that even the grains on materials used in the cabin and load area are designed to use textures that avoid trapping dirt and water, giving the best balance between offering a firm footing for wet or muddy boots and enabling heavy items to slide in and out easily.
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 – Ford’s joint venture in Turkey.
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