Ford Australia has detailed its second electric commercial vehicle ahead of its launch in 2024.
The Ford E-Transit Custom will come with a 74kWh battery pack and an electric motor producing 160kW of power and 415Nm of torque.
Currently, the most powerful diesel Transit Custom in Australia produces 125kW and 390Nm.
Ford is targeting a range of 380km on the stricter WLTP cycle.
Using the 11kW AC three-phase charger, you’ll be able to fully recharge the E-Transit Custom’s battery in a claimed 7.2 hours.
It also supports DC fast charging at up to 124kW, with a 15-80 per cent recharge taking a claimed 41 minutes.
The battery is integrated into the load floor above the sill flange, which Ford says eliminates the need for separate crash structures, while the motor is fitted to the vehicle’s rear floor and rotated 90 degrees to maximise cargo space.
As on the upcoming E-Transit, there’s semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension which Ford says has allowed it to lower the load floor.
As a long-wheelbase panel van, there’s a maximum load length of 3450mm, while load volume is 6.8m3 with the standard roof and 9m3 with the high roof.
Ford says it also moved the front wheels and strut towers forward to improve front seat legroom, while shortening the front overhang to improve manouevrability.
All E-Transit Custom models feature a vapour-injected heat pump, while a brake-by-wire system affords the van one-pedal driving capability.
Inside the cockpit, there’s a 13-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver, running on the latest Sync 4 operating system.
An optional Mobile Office pack includes features like a steering wheel that tilts to become a laptop holder or even a tray for food.
A Driver Focus Mode option uses sensors to direct airflow only to occupied seats, while an ‘intelligent windscreen’ monitors temperature and humidity and adjusts heat and airflow accordingly to keep the view ahead clear.
Ford says it has also picked grains for the interior materials that would avoid trapping dirt and water.
Active safety and driver assist equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.
The E-Transit Custom is distinguished from diesel models by its unique honeycomb grille, aerodynamic wheels, and lighting elements.
It’s one of at least five electrified vehicles the Blue Oval plans to launch locally by the end of 2024.
The quintet also includes the Escape PHEV launched this year, the E-Transit due in 2023, and the Mustang Mach-E we also understand is coming here by that year.
The E-Transit will give Ford a rival to the upcoming Renault Master E-Tech Electric and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter.
The full-sized rear-wheel drive van features a 68kWh battery with 317km of range, plus a 198kW/430Nm electric motor.
The E-Transit Custom will battle the Mercedes-Benz eVito, due here later this year with a claimed 314km of WLTP range. Toyota is also rumoured to be working on an electric HiAce.
While there are a range of electric vans this size on sale in Europe, including electric versions of the Peugeot Expert and its rebadged cousins, the eVito will be the first to launch locally.
