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All-new electric E-Transit Custom reinvents Europe’s best-selling one-tonne van with uncompromised capability, new customer experiences and full Ford Pro support
Productivity boosted by connected Ford Pro services — including new home charging offering — and innovations such as tilting steering wheel, digital upfits and new MultiCab
Next-gen electric powertrain offers up to 337 km driving range, two-year unlimited distance service intervals, payload up to 1,011 kg and class-leading 2,300 kg towing
Latest model to electrify small businesses that make up 99 per cent of all firms in the EU; Ford Pro-commissioned research finds vans are worth around €1 trillion to the EU and UK
FRANKFURT, Germany — The all-new E-Transit Custom from Ford Pro is now launching across Europe, enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to electrify the one-tonne vans that are crucial to their businesses and achieve new levels of productivity.
E-Transit Custom is launching at a significant moment for electric vehicle (EV) adoption by small businesses; an upcoming report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research finds that the EV share of new van registrations in major markets saw a more than fivefold increase from 2018 to 2023. The report also details an increasing number of low-emission zones, which now number over 350 and cover over 80 million people, including every capital city in the EU.
Developed from the ground up around innovative customer-inspired solutions, E‑Transit Custom combines advanced electric vehicle technology with Ford Pro’s digital and physical platform of software and services to help businesses reduce cost of ownership, work more effectively, and simplify the transition to electric vehicles.
Supporting the launch of the new electric model, Ford Pro introduces an integrated home charging solution for businesses — featuring installation of a connected wallbox, management software and maintenance — which will be rolled out across major European markets.
To maximise productivity of van-dependent businesses such as those worth around €1 trillion to the EU and UK economy in 2023, the electric version of Europe’s top-selling one-tonne van offers innovative new features designed around the needs of SMEs. This starts in the cab with standard 5G connectivity and clever features like the unique tilting steering wheel. The efficient electric powertrain supports up to 337 km driving range and two-year unlimited distance service intervals for enhanced cost of ownership. No-compromise load carrying capability delivers payloads up to 1,011 kg, a lower load floor with enhanced access, and class-leading towing capacity of 2,300 kg.
“Small businesses are the heart of Europe’s economy and essential to our communities — and many of them have come to rely on Ford vans. We’ve served those customers for over half a century; their insights have helped us develop electric, plug-in hybrid and diesel vans to suit customers in every trade and location, as well as supporting services designed to make big fleet level productivity achievable for small businesses without a fleet manager,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe.
Already available to order, E-Transit Custom is now in production at Ford Otosan’s state-of-the-art Yeniköy Assembly Plant in Türkiye. The new model joins Ford Pro’s electric van range for Europe alongside the larger E-Transit, which last year outsold its nearest competitor by over five to one to lead its segment, and the E-Transit Courier compact van scheduled for introduction in 2025.
Every E-Transit Custom is fitted with a 64 kWh (useable) battery for a maximum driving range of up to 337 km. E-Transit Custom is the first-ever electric vehicle to use vapour-injected heat pump technology to heat and cool the cabin, fitted as standard to all vehicles. Regenerative braking enables one-pedal driving for more comfortable urban driving and improved efficiency. The drive motor is fitted directly to the rear floor and rotated 90 degrees to maximise loadspace and reduce weight and complexity. Customers can choose from 100 kW or 160 kW power outputs to suit their needs, each offering a class-leading 415 Nm of torque. A more powerful 210 kW motor is offered exclusively on the E-Transit Custom MS-RT model.
A full charge with an 11 kW Ford Pro Home Charger takes about 6.7 hours. Customers can also charge from 10-80 per cent in about 39 minutes on a 125 kW DC charger; in lab testing, a 10-minute charge added 82 km of range. E-Transit Custom’s electric drivetrain delivers class-leading towing capacity of up to 2,300 kg, meaning customers who tow heavier weights in low-emission zones could replace their diesel vehicles in roles that no other all-electric one-tonne van can fill.
The battery is packaged into the load floor above the sill flange to eliminate the need for separate crash structures. For optimum space and weight efficiency, other underbody components are “shrink-wrapped” around the battery.
As on the larger E-Transit, customers can specify the 2.3 kW Pro Power Onboard system to power electric tools and external lights needed on the job. Ford Pro anticipates that E-Transit Custom will deliver lower operating costs compared to an equivalent diesel vehicle; for E-Transit, the reduction in servicing cost of ownership can be as much as 40 per cent. Maintenance savings come from a two-year, unlimited distance service interval and an eight-year, 160,000 km warranty covers all high-voltage components for complete peace of mind.
Ford developed the E-Transit Custom through deep customer engagement, including with many SMEs, to establish the key features and capabilities the new vehicle had to deliver. The all-new architecture underpins a new level of productivity with features such as: A lower load floor, class-leading side door aperture and new side step for easier loading
Overall height under two metres on most models for improved access to height-restricted areas
Semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension to enhance traction, handling and steering precision
Innovations designed to make the cab more productive and comfortable on long shifts include: Mobile Office option pack with tilting steering wheel, Time-saving Delivery Assist technology, Repositioned front wheels and strut towers to improve space and cross-cab access, Roof-mounted passenger airbag to create new storage areas
As security of their vehicle, tools and loads is critical to SMEs, Ford Pro is introducing factory-fit TVL lock packs to enhance security without the cost and downtime of aftermarket fitment.
Every E-Transit Custom is fitted with a 13-inch landscape touchscreen angled towards the driver for ease of use, equipped with Ford’s advanced SYNC 4 communication and infotainment system powered by 5G modem for connectivity to the Ford Pro tech stack. Further on-the-go productivity comes from Alexa Built-in, meaning drivers can use simple voice commands to voice-activate calls and even make purchases directly through Amazon.com
More than 30 separate modules on E-Transit Custom are capable of receiving wireless software updates. These can help improve vehicle performance, deliver quality upgrades, update existing features and add all-new functions and capabilities. Most updates are completed in under two minutes and can be scheduled to avoid downtime.
Many businesses require specialist converted features such as refrigeration units or additional lighting. Ford Pro’s new Vehicle Integration System makes this process faster and simpler, and can result in a more reliable vehicle — ideal for SMEs without the time or in-depth knowledge to manage conversions. A network of around 200 approved Ford Pro Convertors in Europe can deliver conversions from off-the-shelf to fully bespoke, all with factory-level support.
As part of the most comprehensive Transit Custom range ever, E-Transit Custom operators can specify L1 or L2 vehicle lengths and a broadest-yet range of body styles to support any business use case: Panel van, with load volumes up to 6.8 m3 and payloads up to 1,011 kg, Double-cab-in-van, with a three-seat second row and fixed bulkhead, Kombi, with maximum flexibility between cargo and up to eight passenger seats, MultiCab, with a two-seat second row, full-length cargo area and solid bulkhead
Operators can choose a series option to suit their specific needs from the four-strong line-up: Trend, Limited, Sport, MS-RT
For small businesses keen to electrify but with use cases not suited to full electrification, Ford Pro offers the Transit Custom PHEV, with pure-electric driving capability for city centres and petrol power for extended highway trips. The new powertrain is similar to that used by the Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid — Europe’s top-selling PHEV for the past three years — and combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an 11.8 kWh (useable) battery to deliver 233 PS, a pure-electric driving range of up to 56 km and Pro Power Onboard.