Ford E-Transit Custom: Australia launch set for 2024

Ford Australia has released further details of the all-electric E-Transit Custom which will be one of five electrified vehicles due in local showrooms by the end of 2024.

In the current age of rising petrol prices and an increasingly urgent environmental crisis, Ford is pitching the E-Transit Custom towards small businesses, combining intelligent and functional ergonomic packaging with innovative experiences based on cloud connectivity and digital technologies.

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With the launch still over a year away, ultimate local pricing remains unconfirmed for now.

What we now know is that Ford's E-Transit Custom harnesses a 400-volt system with a 74-kWh battery pack, which shares its 81.2Ah pouch cells with the larger American-market F-150 Lightning. The battery enables a WLTP-rated driving range of 380 kilometres.

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Australian-spec E-Transit Customs will be equipped with a single 160kW/415Nm motor driving the rear wheels. The motor itself is mounted directly to the vehicle's floor, removing the need for a dedicated subframe, and further reducing weight and complexity. Regenerative brake-by-wire is a feature, and can be driven in 'one-pedal' mode.

Charging by three-phase power, at home or work, will fully recharge the E-Transit Custom's battery in a little over seven hours, comfortably overnight. Otherwise, the T-Transit Custom also supports up to 124kW DC fast charging for a 15-80 per cent recharge in 41 minutes. A new charge profile front-loads the energy, delivering quick, useful top-ups. Ford's lab testing shows the system delivered almost 38km of driving range in five minutes using a 124kW charger.

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Ford's innovative transformation of the humble Transit van doesn't just lie in the powertrain, however, with ingenious packaging features found throughout.

An optional Mobile Office option pack sees the fitment of a new tilting steering wheel that can transform into a stand for tablets or laptops, as well as a flat-surface for writing – or even lunch breaks.

Full LED exterior lighting highlights rebalanced proportions for a smart and confident stance, while aerodynamics were optimised by use of a flat-floor design, honeycomb grille, aero wheel designs and even rear light clusters to maximise range and efficiency.

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Packaging of the EV powertrain allowed Ford's engineers to lower the load floor by 100 millimetres compared to the outgoing Transit Custom. Maximum load length is 3450mm, with an ultimate load volume of 6.8 cubic metres in standard, or 9.0 cubic metres in 'high roof' body configurations.

The rear end is suspended by semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension, while the MacPherson strut front assembly has been moved forward, lengthening the wheelbase, and improving front-seat footspace and legroom.

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A standard safety suite features pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, driver alert warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, wrong way alert, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

The smart cabin anchors on a sculpted dashboard, centred by a 13.0-inch landscape touchscreen operating on Ford's latest SYNC4 infotainment system.

Elsewhere around the cabin, material and textures that avoid trapping dirt and water were specifically chosen for durability and ease of maintenance.

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The Transit van is something of an icon in the one-tonne commercial segment, and is truly one of Ford's global smash hits. In-fact, when global sales surpassed 8 million in 2015, it was the third best-selling commercial vehicle ever. Australia's E-Transit Custom variants will be manufactured in Turkey.