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.

Peugeot e-Boxer last-mile electric delivery van priced from £49,335 in UK

Peugeot’s e-Boxer will start from £49,335 in the UK after the PiCG. Images: Peugeot

Peugeot has announced pricing for its e-Boxer electric van in the UK. Customers have the choice of panel van, window van, and chassis cab body styles, three wheelbase lengths depending on business needs, and two battery options:

Panel Van L2H2 435 37kWh Auto Professional - £49,335 (After Plug-in Car Grant)

Panel Van L3H2 435 70kWh Auto Professional - £55,085

Panel Van L3H2 440 70kWh Auto Professional - £58,355

Panel Van L4H2 440 70kWh Auto Professional - £59,255

Window Van L4H2 440 70kWh Auto Professional - £59,750

Chassis Cab L3 435 70kWh Auto Professional - £52,010

Chassis Cab L3 440 70kWh Auto Professional - £55,280

The entry model offers a 37 kWh battery with a 73-mile (117km) range (WLTP). Buyers can option a larger 70kWh battery, which will provide 139 miles (224km) of range, and will cost an additional £5,750.

All models come with a 22kW Type 2 charging cable that is compatible with both single and three phase wallboxes. A full 0-100% charge using a 7.4kW single phase wallbox can be achieved in six hours on the 37kWh battery, and 12 hours on the 70kWh battery. The e-Boxer also supports DC rapid charging up to 50kW, allowing a 0-80% charge in just one hour. Both battery options are connected to a 90kW electric motor producing 350Nm of torque.

Peugeot’s e-Boxer will offer a choice of 117km or 224km range models.

While the vehicle range-to-price ratio may seem uneconomical, electric delivery vans are set to be common sights on our streets in response to strict environmental standards being introduced at all levels of government across the United States and Europe. Volta is aiming to bring a range of electric trucks to European streets by 2025, and Amazon/Rivian’s delivery van is currently testing across the United States.

The efficient and clean movement of freight within dense urban areas is a complex problem facing municipalities and planners alike, and short-range, zero-emissions vehicles are set to slash diesel usage and particulate matter. There is potential to quickly reduce fleet operating costs, as well as downtime due to mechanical issues. Electric vehicles also offer the ability to integrate smart software into the vehicle, to optimise delivery routes and minimise driver fatigue.

Peugeot’s e-Boxer is available to order now for European customers.

Volta Trucks amps up its electrification strategy with new electric trucks and market expansion

The Volta Zero is targeting London as an initial launch market. Images: Volta Trucks

• Four battery-electric Volta Zero vehicles to be offered from 7.5 to 19 tonnes.

• Volta Trucks projects volumes to exceed 27,000 units per year by 2025.

• Market expansion via Europe-first city-specific strategy, with launch markets, expanded from London and Paris to include wider European cities.

• Vehicle manufacturing strategy to locate facilities close to core markets.

• Volta Trucks lays out its Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy with a road map to 2025.

UK electric truck startup Volta Trucks has outlined a Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, crucial to following through with its promise to decarbonise the logistics industry. With many European cities implementing low or zero-emission zones, Volta Trucks intends to be ahead of the curve by rolling out four fully electric commercial vehicles by 2025.

Announcing the company’s Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Essa Al-Saleh, said:

"We have seen huge success since launching the 16-tonne Volta Zero in September 2020. We have significant tail winds with zero emission large commercial vehicles, thanks to forthcoming legislation changes that are driving demand, as well as many customers with uncompromising sustainability agendas wanting to purchase the most environmentally focused vehicles for their fleets. This has created a very strong order book that encourages us to rapidly accelerate our plans.

Volta Trucks will introduce its brand with the 16-tonne Volta Zero, expected to commence production late in 2021, followed by 19-tonne and 12-tonne variants in 2023. According to Volta, the most affordable of the range, a 7.5-tonne model, is currently in the early design development phase and will enter production in late-2024.

Volta Trucks plans to revolutionise logistics fleets with the Zero.

Volta Trucks will adopt a network manufacturing strategy, planning a number of assembly facilities distributed across its key markets with a view to minimising unnecessary transportation and cost. Volta Trucks is currently engaged in the ‘expressions of interest’ phase of the repurposing of Nissan’s former factory in Barcelona. Ultimately, Volta Trucks is considering a number of additional manufacturing locations across Europe, North America and Asia, to be able to achieve a significant volume ramp up from launch.

Volta Trucks announced last year a large purchase of 1,000 full-electric large commercial vehicles by Petit Forestier, Europe’s largest refrigerated commercial rental fleet. The company holds over $260 million USD in orders as of January 2021.

The company also plans to revolutionise commercial logistics fleets, by offering a Truck as a Service ("TaaS") option for fleet managers to accelerate the electrification of their fleets, while paying a single, monthly fee for a vehicle inclusive of servicing, insurance and maintenance.