Ford has a very ambitious program to electrify its fleet of vehicles in the coming years, not only for individuals but also for the professionals who use them, especially for last mile deliveries within cities. That’s why Ford is electrifying its vans and at the same time creating a range of services that help professionals through this transition, answering all questions, for example, about charging processes. All under their Ford Pro division and with a vehicle as their gateway: the Ford E-Transit Custom.
In hypertext we spoke with its CEO Ted Cannis, about how he sees the present and future of electrification in the professional sector. According to Cannis “the percentage of electric vehicles in the fleets of the professional sector is very low, but in the next four years it will increase significantly, even up to 50%“.
To do this, Ford’s Pro (Productivity Pro) division goes beyond selling electric vehicles. For example, with Ford Pro E-Telematics, we can know with certainty when a potential vehicle breakdown is approaching, so that be able to repair it in advance. In this way, companies whose main activity is transportation avoid one of the biggest problems: leaving the van without moving for several days.
In terms of charging processes, perhaps the aspect that causes the most skepticism among professionals when it comes to switching from internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles, Ford Pro also offers you the Ford Pro Recharge with a team of consultants and advisors who will tell you how many charging points they recommend to install, where and the type of load, if it is fast, slow, or both. For example, if a driver leaves a van overnight in their home garage, installing a conventional charging point can save costs and ensure the vehicle is ready for the next morning. For example, with the 11kW 3-phase AC charger included with the E-Transit Custom, the battery can be charged in 7-8 hours.
So the purpose of the Ford Pro is to help companies reduce their cost of ownershipwork more efficiently and simplify the transition to electric vehicles.
New Ford E-Transit Custom
The new electric version of Europe’s best-selling Ford Transit van has been designed from the ground up to make the most of its space and performance. For example, includes 400 volt, 74 kW battery and it offers autonomy 380 kilometers. This figure is ideal for all those people who make city trips, such as last mile couriers. It also has a fast charging system up to 125 kW, with which charging from 15 to 80% in 41 minutes.
In terms of power, professionals will be able to choose between two different 100 kW or 160 kW (135 PS or 217 PS) engines, each with class-leading 415 Nm of torque.
Among its most important characteristics are possibility of access to the cabin from the cargo compartment or the flexibility of elements to adapt to the needs of workers, such as a steering wheel that turns into a table, with the perfect 90-degree angle to support a computer or even a meal.
Ford Electronic Transit Custom offers a payload of up to 1100 kglow load floor with easier access and a maximum load capacity of 2000 kg.
Its production will be carried out at the Ford plant in Turkey. and expected to start enter the European market at the end of next year. The price is not yet known, but according to Ted Cannis, it will be very attractive to the vast majority of professionals.
Source: Hiper Textual
