Ford introduced the E-Transit on Thursday, a versatile, all-electric cargo van designed to be the preferred choice for commercial clients.

The E-Transit represents a portion of the company’s $11.5 billion commitment to electric vehicle technology, and it may prove to be the most significant element of that investment. Ford has primarily directed its electric vehicle development toward individual consumers, most notably with the Mustang Mach-E, scheduled to become available at dealerships later this year. 

The E-Transit is intended to reinforce Ford’s leading position in the cargo van sector. Currently, its traditional combustion engine Transit vans hold a 40% share of the market; however, the emergence of electric vehicles presents further growth possibilities. Ford projects that the total market for battery electric commercial vans will reach 1.1 million sales by 2030.

The E-Transit will be offered in eight different configurations, encompassing three roof heights, three lengths, and models including a cargo van, chassis cab, and cutaway. The vehicle includes a standard 12-inch touchscreen display, Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system with voice control and navigation, and an optional feature providing 2.4 kilowatts of power for tools. All models are covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty for electric vehicle components. 

Ford revealed details on Thursday regarding its low-roof cargo van, which will be available to U.S. fleet customers for less than $45,000. This version will feature a 67 kilowatt-hour battery, enabling a range of 126 miles on a single charge. Ford’s specifications indicate that the medium roof, long-wheelbase E-Transit will achieve 116 miles of range per charge, while the extended-length version will offer 108 miles.

The E-Transit, supporting both AC and DC fast charging, will come equipped with a standard Ford Mobile Charger compatible with standard 120-volt outlets or 240-volt outlets for quicker charging. The company will also offer a connected charging station capable of fully recharging the van in 8 hours. 

While these ranges may appear limited when compared to converted Tesla vehicles, Ford contends that commercial customers prioritize cost-effectiveness and have a clear understanding of their specific requirements.

“Commercial customers evaluate vehicles based on their total cost of ownership,” explained Yaro Hetman, global marketing director for electric trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles, in a recent TechCrunch interview. Essentially, they aim to complete their tasks as efficiently as possible without investing in capabilities beyond their needs, and this principle extends to range as well.

Hetman stated that the company analyzed over 30 million miles of commercial driving data from its existing combustion engine Transit vans in North America. Ford discovered that the average commercial van in the U.S. travels 74 miles daily.

The company anticipates that some customers will require greater range, and Hetman indicated that further announcements regarding versions with increased range and capabilities are forthcoming.

Ford also highlighted the reduced maintenance expenses associated with the E-Transit, estimating that scheduled maintenance costs will be 40% lower than those of a comparable gasoline-powered 2020 Transit over an eight-year/100,000-mile period.

Ford believes that the simultaneous launches of the upcoming E-Transit cargo van and the all-electric F-150 truck will enable it to secure a position in the electric vehicle market, which is expected to be both competitive and potentially profitable as cities implement stricter regulations on gasoline-powered vehicles. 

But with the all-electric F-150 not scheduled to arrive until mid-2022, attention is currently focused on Ford’s cargo van. The company has released extensive details geared toward fleet customers, including standard driver assistance features such as road edge detection, a driver drowsiness alert, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. Optional upgrades are available, including an advanced driver assistance system with adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition with navigation, and an automatic speed limiting device, as well as parking and reversing assistance features.

An embedded modem, integrated with Ford Telematics or Ford Data Services, is also available to help optimize fleet operations.

Fleet management tools that enhance productivity, driver safety, and driver coaching are all potentially appealing to customers, according to Julius Marchwicki, COO of Ford Commercial Solutions.

“Our tools will now be able to provide reports on charging, assess the performance of your electric vehicles, and remotely precondition them to maximize range before they begin their daily routes,” Marchwicki explained in a recent interview.