Ford launches all-electric E-Transit Courier in Istanbul
revealed its ground-up FORD PRO new all-electric commercial vehicle E-Transit Courier with a global launch ceremony held in Istanbul on April 6. Bringing enhanced connectivity and productivity for compact van customers, the design and engineering of the E-Transit Courier were done by Ford Otosan, Europe’s largest producer of commercial vehicles with annual production set to exceed 900,000 units by 2025. All models will be built in Craiova, Romania, by Ford Otosan, the manufacturer of the best-selling Transit Custom and segment-leading E-Transit and will be on the market by the end of 2024.
The global launch was held at Ford Otosan’s R&D Center in Istanbul with the participation of Ford Pro Europe General Manager Hans Schep and Ford Otosan General Manager Guven Ozyurt. Speaking at the launch, “E-Transit Courier moves its segment up a level with uncompromised EV performance, higher load capacity, and fully connected support including end-to-end charging solutions, Ford Pro ETelematics, and uptime-boosting FORDLiive,” said Hans Schep, General Manager of Ford Pro Europe. “Ford Pro’s long-standing market leadership gives us unrivaled insight into customers’ needs and means we can help them get big productivity from their compact vans with more connectivity and capability than ever before.”
‘OUR ROLE IN THE ELECTRIFICATION IS INCREASING’
For his part, Ford Otosan General Manager Guven Ozyurt stated that Ford continues to increase its role in the electrification journey with the E-Transit Courier, the latest example of Ford Otosan’s engineering and design competencies as well as its production power. “We are very proud to develop the design of the new Courier, which we will bring together with our customers with both electric and internal combustion engine alternatives, with the Ford design teams in Dunton and Cologne, and to take full responsibility for its engineering,” he said. Part of Ford’s over USD 50bn global push to lead the EV revolution, the E-Transit Courier is the next step as the company electrifies its iconic Transit family of commercial vehicles, joining the larger E-Transit and E-Transit Custom models in the Ford Pro portfolio.
FAST CHARGE CAPABILITY UP TO 100 KW
E-Transit Courier’s all-electric powertrain has been engineered to deliver an uncompromised driving experience for customers, including a powerful 100 kW motor and one-pedal driving capability. Full performance and range details will be confirmed closer to launch.
Ford Pro Charging offers an endto-end solution for home, depot, and public charging, including hardware installation and management software that helps to optimize the charging process. Simplified billing and administration via Ford Pro Charging software also support businesses whose drivers take their work vehicle home, as well as streamlining public charging.
Ford Pro expects E-Transit Courier to be popular with customers who charge at home; Ford Pro Charging is targeting an 11 kW AC overnight home charge in 5.7 hours, and charging can be scheduled to take advantage of cheaper overnight energy using the in-vehicle touchscreen or depot charging software.
To support efficient public charging, the vehicle offers a DC fast charge capability of up to 100 kW. Ford expects the system to add 87 km of range in 10 minutes, and charge from 10 to 80% in less than 35 minutes. E-Transit Courier also comes with a year of complimentary access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which is set to include 500,000 public chargers by 2024.
25% MORE CARGO VOLUME OFFERED
E-Transit Courier’s all-new body design delivers increased load capacity in all dimensions. The width between the rear wheel arches is 1,220 mm, enabling the compact van to carry two Euro pallets for the first time. The total cargo volume is now 2.9 cubic meters, 25% more than the outgoing model. This can be further increased using the new load-through bulkhead feature, which enables customers to carry items such as planks or pipe over 2,600 mm long. The maximum payload for the all-electric model is 700 kg, with a maximum towing weight of 750 kg.
Driver and cargo safety are paramount concerns for van operators and Ford Pro. E-Transit Courier sets a new benchmark in the segment with its comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard. An optional further bundle includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring and Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Intersection Assist, and Reverse Brake Assist for more peace of mind in urban driving.
Every E-Transit Courier features a built-in modem as standard, enabling always-on connectivity with the Ford Pro ecosystem and wireless software updates that can evolve the vehicle’s capability over time without requiring a dealer visit.