Ford launches entry-level Transit City electric van
Ford has announced a new entry-level electric van for urban use, fittingly called the Ford Transit City.
The new commercial vehicle is a pared-back alternative to the existing E-Transit Custom and aims to deliver a more affordable but similarly practical panel van for businesses which operate in urban environments.
Although it is a similar size to the E-Transit Custom, the Transit City is an entirely different vehicle, based on a dedicated EV platform from Ford’s Chinese partner Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC).
Ford says this has allowed it to develop the van with “laser-sharp focus on maximising efficiency and minimising cost”.
The Transit City will come with just three body styles – L1H1, L2H2 and chassis cab. Despite its entry-point positioning, it still offers practicality to rival the E-Transit Custom. The L2H2 variant has a load length of more than three metres and can accommodate three Euro pallets and up to 8.5 cubic metres of cargo volume. Payload is up to 1,275kg, depending on variant, but there’s no towing figure – a sign of the city focus of this van.
To keep costs down, there is just one powertrain option – a 148bhp front-mounted motor with a 56kWh LFP battery. Ford says this will deliver up to 158 miles of range – a figure it claims is twice the daily average of vans in European cities.
Charging tops out at 87kW, with an average power of 67kW, which should allow a 10-80% top up in 33 minutes, or add 30 miles in 10 minutes. Unlike Ford’s more expensive models, AC charging is capped at 11kW.
Ford says the Transit City is designed to be a cost-effective solution for last-mile and multi-drop delivery operators, utility firms, builders and others who need a zero-emission van for urban use.
It estimates operating costs could be 40% lower than an equivalent diesel van and says the van has been “torture tested” to ensure that high-usage parts, such as doors and the driver’s seat will handle the demands of users.
Among standard features intended to meet users’ needs are a heated driver’s seat, keyless start, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and Android and Apple mirroring.
Orders are expected to open before the summer, with first deliveries towards the end of the year. Ford hasn’t confirmed UK pricing yet but it seems likely it will slot in between the far smaller £27,000 E-Transit Courier and the £43,000 E-Transit Custom.
