Ford e-Transit custom launched in Europe

 The fossil fuelled Transit Custom has long been the leading white van on the UK and Europe’s roads and the EV version is set to be the replacement for the White Van Man’s favourite van. 

Amongst other highlights, the e-Transit Custom will have a range of 236 miles per charge. UK government statistics show that based on 48 weeks of use a year, the average white van does 270 miles a week, so it is set to only need a full charge and a quick top up on an average week’s driving. That should deal with the so-called range anxiety that so many professional drivers cite when they dodge the idea of getting an EV. 

The e-Transit Custom also does something that fossil fuel vehicles can’t do without modification - it has a Pro Power Tech option that allows the user to plug their power tools in. Instead of having an armload of Snap On batteries to hand for your drills, saws etc, you can have one battery charging from the van while using the other. This should help the tradesman using it a considerable amount in investment in batteries and so on. 

Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe said, “Europe’s best-selling van just went all-electric and – supported by our unique Ford Pro one-stop-shop of productivity-boosting services – the operating benefits this will bring to business across Europe cannot be overstated.” 

The e-Transit Custom joins the family of four Ford EV vans that the company are planning to put on UK and EU roads in the near future. The e-Transit Courier will be optimised for last mile delivery with companies like DHL and DPD using them on their rounds, while the two Tourney vans are people-carrying versions. 

Between them, Ford hopes to be as dominant of the white van market as it has been over the years with the Transit series. As with all automotive companies moving into EVs this is going to be a risk and until each have a long track record none are guaranteed a place at the top table. You just need to see Tesla coming out of nowhere and scaring the daylights out of the major OEMs with their cars to see how open the field is just now.