Ford is going electric, and at full speed. Only recently, the Dearborn-based car manufacturer presented the new Explorer, a new compact-class crossover – with a platform from Volkswagen. Ford and Volkswagen are now also working closely together on commercial vehicles. The central model will be the electric version of the Transit Courier – a delivery van for city centers and the last few miles. After the E-Transit and the E-Transit Custom, the E-Transit Courier is the third electric commercial vehicle in the model family. Ford is currently investing more than 50 billion US dollars in the electrification of its product range.
The load master in the 0.75 tonne class is powered by an electric motor on the front axle, which has an output of 100 kW / 136 hp. Compared to the previous model, the Ford E-Transit Courier offers a loading volume of up to 2,900 liters – an increase of 25 percent compared to its predecessor. The loading width between the rear wheel arches has increased from 1.01 to 1.22 meters thanks to a new rear wheel suspension, making it possible to transport two Euro pallets for the first time. Practical: the load compartment length increases by 18 centimeters to 1.8 meters. In conjunction with the new through-loading opening in the bulkhead and the fold-down front passenger seat, it can also be enlarged so that objects up to 2.6 meters long, such as boards or pipes, can now be loaded. The front cargo area of the E-Transit Courier has a capacity of 44 liters and is suitable for charging cables and smaller items.
However, it will be more than a year and a half before the electric Transit Courier rolls out to customers. The start of production of the E-Transit Courier is not planned until autumn next year at the Romanian Ford Otosan plant in Craiova; the market launch will follow at the end of 2024. However, the versions with petrol or diesel engines, which will be delivered from the end of 2023, will start this summer. A 1.5 liter four-cylinder diesel engine with 74 kW / 100 hp and two three-cylinder petrol engines with 74 kW / 100 hp and 92 kW / 125 hp are available – optionally with a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed double clutch. “With the E-Transit Courier, the compact delivery van segment has reached a higher level,” emphasizes Hans Schep, Managing Director of Ford Pro in Europe, “it combines unrestricted electric vehicle performance with greater loading and transport capacities and is part of our Ford Pro sales network. and service concept, which is aimed at commercial customers of all sectors and sizes with a wide range of practically relevant services from a single source.”
The 4.34 meter long E-Transit Courier has a maximum payload of up to 700 kilograms; The towing capacity remains manageable at 750 kilograms. Ford offers the E-Transit Courier exclusively as a two-seater panel van. The combustion models of the Ford Transit Courier – in combination with petrol or diesel drive – are also available as a station wagon with a three-seater rear seat. Meanwhile, the diesel and petrol models have an increased payload of up to 845 kilograms. The charging speed of 100 kilowatts is very manageable for an electric vehicle that will not be launched until the end of 2024. From ten to 80 percent battery charge takes more than half an hour. The top speed is 145 km/h.
Inside, the Ford E-Transit Courier offers two 12-inch displays for instruments and controls. The latest generation of the Sync 4 operating system is installed on the central display. Numerous driver assistance systems such as high-beam assistant, reversing camera, cruise control, lane departure warning, fatigue warning or parking aids ensure safety on board. There is also an optional equipment package that includes an adaptive cruise control system with lane pilot, blind spot warning, oncoming traffic collision warning and reversing brake assistant.
