Ford Australia to introduce E-Transit electric commercial vehicle in 2022

It may not be the Mustang Mach-E or the F150 Lighting, but Ford Australia has announced an electrification strategy that will kick off with the E-Transit commercial vehicle in mid-2022, and will eventually include five new electric Ford models for the Australian market by 2024.

The E-Transit is a 68 kWh battery electric vehicle, with a WLTP rated range of 317 km (197 miles). The rear-mounted motor produces 198kW and 430Nm of torque, driven through the rear wheels. Those are some serious numbers for a commercial vehicle. The current 2021 on the market outputs around 125kW for comparison.

According to Anna Hercan, Transit Retail & Product Marketing Manager, Ford Australia, “Our business customers tell us how important it is for them to have their van ready whenever it’s needed. E-Transit has more than enough range for a full day’s work, can fully charge overnight so it’s ready for the next morning and there’s no sacrifice in its load-carrying capacity or convenience.”

To meet customers’ expectations, the E-Transit offers 11.3kW AC and 115kW DC charging, with a 15-80 percent charge taking around 34 minutes on a DC fast charger. According to Ford Australia, E-Transit offers drive modes tailored to its electric powertrain. A special Eco Mode can provide between eight and 10 per cent improvement in energy usage if E-Transit is driven without cargo, or at highway speeds. Eco Mode limits top speed, regulates acceleration and optimises climate control to help maximise the available driving range.

The vehicle also supports Scheduled Pre-Conditioning, enabling the climate control system to be programmed to adjust the cabin to the preferred temperature while the vehicle is still on charge, ensuring that the maximum driving range is available.

E-Transit also offers 11.3 cubic metres of cargo space 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 equivalents currently available. Gross vehicle mass of up to 4.2 tonnes is offered, with a targeted payload of 1,616 kg.

According to market research company YouGov, 58 per cent of businesses can see EV’s becoming a part of their vehicle fleet in the future. Furthermore, 63 per cent of Aussie consumers would like to see cleaner and more sustainable commercial vehicle fleets on the road and 52 per cent are likely to consider an electrified vehicle for their next vehicle purchase.

Ford Australia will bring new battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to Australia, as part of a plan to build an electrified future down under. According to Andrew Birkic, president and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand, “We are accelerating our electrified future in Australia, [and] we are anticipating the needs of each type of customer and bringing the best of our global lineup 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.”

We expect this plan to include a mix of battery-only (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs); while Ford is implementing its electrification strategy, building battery plants, new factories, and partnering with Volkswagen to leverage Wolfsburg’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform architecture, all this takes time, and it is unlikely the fruits of such pursuits would make their way to Australia in two years.

With Hyundai and Kia planning more volume BEVs by 2022, and an expected wave of new Chinese cars to reach our shores by next year, Ford may be a bit late to the BEV party.

Back to the E Transit though; the last-mile delivery market in Australia is an untapped opportunity for e-mobility manufacturers. With the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic on business, alongside increasing costs of fuel and road charges, businesses in Australia are looking for more ways to save money and the environment. Furthermore, commercial vehicles are more often than not dirty, diesel soot-belching models, and these noisy vehicles spend a large percentage of their lives idling on residential streets. If Ford can make a business case for the E Transit here, other global manufacturers are sure to follow. Let’s just hope we will see the Mustang Mach-E here eventually.