Summary
The cargo-van dedicated E-Transit is visually almost indistinguishable from Gas-powered transit, but geared toward a different customer base: those who want a zero-emission electric hauler that doesn’t require a lot of mileage. Meanwhile #Vanlife Transit Line While no equivalent is offered, the E-Transit is available in chassis-cab, cutaway, and cargo-van configurations, enabling it to be adapted to a variety of commercial customer needs. Buyers also have to decide between three different roof heights and three different wheelbases. Standard equipment included Ford Sync 4 infotainment system, a range of driver-assist safety technologies such as lane-keeping assist and automatic braking, 4G connectivity, and vinyl bucket front seats with manual four-way adjustment. Those looking to add a full-size, battery-powered van to their fleet have only one vehicle to choose from: this one. It has an estimated range of 126 miles, and a DC fast charger can recharge the battery enough to provide 30 miles of range in just 10 minutes. E-Transit’s range may not seem like much, but Ford believes that, for its targeted clients — traders and delivery drivers — it should be sufficient. Sales figures will be revealed if the customer agrees.
What’s New for 2023?
The 2023 Ford E-Transit gets minor updates, including two newly available school bus packages and two new exterior color options: Blue Metallic and Blue Mist. Backup alarm options are also now available, including a white noise option, and fixed racks are now offered for high roof models. Ford has also made the reverse speed limiter standard for all E-Transit models.
Price and Which One to Buy
The cheapest version of the E-Transit is the Cutaway style which has no rear cargo area and is offered to special upfitters. Way better for most consumers is the cargo-van body style.
EV Motors, Power and Performance
One electric motor pumps out 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque; The E-Transit uses a rear-wheel drive arrangement; all-wheel drive is not available. Straight-line performance isn’t all that important to commercial buyers, and Ford hasn’t released a 60 mph time estimate yet, but we expect the E-Transit to offer manly acceleration, at least when unladen. The company says that the E-Transit’s suspension system has been revised from the petrol-powered Transit to improve handling. When we get the chance to test drive the E-Transit, we’ll report our driving impressions here.
Crane Capacity and Payload
Towing capacity for the E-Transit is unknown at this time, but the maximum payload for the cargo van is 3,880 pounds ranging up to 4,513 pounds for the cutaway model.
Range, Charging and Battery Life
The E-Transit battery pack is a 67.0 kWh unit that’s good for driving up to 126 miles per charge, says Ford. Packages can be refilled using an AC outlet or via a DC fast charging station. Ford will provide a mobile charger that can be used to charge the E-Transit at home and will also offer a more powerful charging station that can be installed in the buyer’s garage. If not, the driver can refill at public gas stations.
Real World Fuel Economy and MPGe
The EPA has not released an estimate for the E-Transit’s fuel economy. When we get the chance to test E-Transit ourselves, we bow our 75 mph highway fuel economy test and update this story with MPGe and driving-range results. For more information on E-Transit fuel savings, visit EPA website.
Interior, Comfort and Cargo
E-Transit will only be offered with seats for two people only. A workhorse, the E-Transit’s cabin is utilitarian, with rubber floors, durable plastic trim and cloth seat upholstery. Both standard height and high-roof models were offered, as well as normal bodies and an extended wheelbase. Cargo space will be plentiful, whatever body style is chosen; the largest extended-wheelbase model with a high roof offers over 487 cubic feet of cargo space.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All E-Transit models will come standard with a 12.0-inch infotainment system which dwarfs the 4.0-inch screen on the regular Transit. It’s even bigger and more advanced than the Transit’s usual optional 8.0-inch display on the go Ford’s latest Sync 4 operating system. The onboard 4G LTE modem provides a Wi-Fi hotspot as well as connectivity features for fleet managers, including vehicle telematics. The infotainment system is capable of receiving over-the-air updates.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
E-Transit comes standard with the suite driver assistance features called Co-Pilot360 with more advanced driver assistance available as an option. For more information about E-Transit crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Key safety features include:
- Standard automatic emergency braking
- Standard lane departure alerts with lane maintenance assistance
- Adaptive cruise control is available with traffic sign recognition
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Ford’s standard warranty package is pretty basic and in line with industry norms. E-Transit offers an eight year/100,000 mile warranty on its battery components, but Ford does not offer a free scheduled maintenance plan.
- The limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- The powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- The battery parts warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- No free scheduled maintenance
More Features and Specifications
