Lucas Bell 
The Ford Motor Company has made their intentions for the future clear: the brand is committed to electrification and aims to be a carbon neutral company by 2050. In order to reach this goal, the automaker needs to start rolling out an extensive EV portfolio. With the Electric F-150 not far off, the automaker officially kicked off their new era of commercial vehicles this morning with the debut of the Ford E-Transit. Here’s what we know so far about the new electrified-version of the world’s best selling commercial van.
Not unlike the upcoming Electric F-150, the new Ford E-Transit shares its platform underpinnings with its gas-powered stablemates. This may seem odd to the EV faithful, who are used to bespoke “skateboard” platforms. However, Ford says that this decision was made to ensure the greatest amount of usability for their customers, specifically in terms of upfitting. By retaining the same three body-style, wheelbase, and roof height options as the gas vans, the E-Transit will allow for a seamless transition from old tech to the new age. Furthermore, 13 upfitters are located within 30 miles of the assembly plant, allowing customers to get fast delivery to the upfitter of their choice right when they order their van.
In place of the gasoline engine there now sits an electric powertrain, with the battery measuring in at 67 kilowatt-hours. We also know that the van will arrive with 266 horsepower and 316 ft-lb of torque. Ford also states that the E-Transit should arrive with 126 miles of range, which the company says should be sufficient for most commercial and delivery applications in the United States. That EV powertrain will allow the E-Transit to have a maximum payload capacity of 3,800 lbs in cargo van trim, while the cutaway models will hold a higher rating of 4,200 lbs. Interior cargo volume is rated at 487.3 cubic feet for the high-roof, extended wheelbase model.
Should that charge start to get low during a shift, customers will have access to the over 13,500 chargers across the country. The Ford E-Transit will also support AC and DC fast charging, and is slated to arrive with several at-home charging options. Ford’s new Mobile Charger can plug into a 120-volt outlet for slow and steady charging, or into a more potent 240-volt outlet for faster charging times. The Ford Connected Charge Station can fully charge E-Transit in eight hours, for customers who need the fastest at-home experience.
Like any proper electric vehicle, the new van also brings a serious amount of tech to the table. Ford has extended their portfolio of connected services for the E-Transit, offering more web and app-based telematics solutions along with EV-specific software. These programs are backed by Ford’s full-suite of Sync 4 programs, which run through a standard 12-inch infotainment display. Highlights include the new charger finder navigation system, as well as Ford’s new intelligent range calculator. This program takes environmental factors into play in order to calculate a more accurate range total, alleviating some range-induced anxiety.
The 2022 Ford E-Transit will carry an MSRP under $45,000 for U.S. fleet customers, and will be covered by an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty. With more folks utilizing delivery services than ever before, the new electric commercial vehicle could prove rather promising.
