New Ford E-Transit Courier is 'uncompromised' small electric van

By James Attwood

6 Apr 2023

Ford has ramped up the electrification of its commercial vehicle fleet with the launch of the new E-Transit Courier, its smaller electric van yet.

The new machine, which will go on sale in 2024, is the first time the Blue Oval’s Courier range has gained a battery electric model, and will sit underneath the mid-size E-Transit Custom and full-size E-Transit in the firm’s line-up.

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Hans Schep, the boss of Ford Pro Europe, said that the new model was part of a £40 billion global investment in electric vehicles, which includes £430 million to convert Ford’s Craiova plant in Romania, where the E-Transit Courier will be built. The E-Transit Courier will be crucial in giving Ford another offering for urban delivery vehicles.

“Electrification in the commercial space is really picking up,” said Schep. “This is what our customers want, and this is where the world is going. Customers want a total range of vehicles, which we’ve got now.”

The new E-Transit Courier is built on the same platform as the Ford Puma compact crossover, and will follow petrol and diesel-engined versions of the Transit Courier that will go on sale later this year.

The electric version will be powered by a 100kW and 214lb ft motor, and will offer a top speed of 90mph. Ford has yet to give full technical details such as battery size, but has confirmed it will be capable of one-pedal driving with regenerative braking, and can charge at 100kW that will give a 10-80 per cent top-up in less than 35 minutes.

Three driving modes (Normal, Eco and Slippery) will be offered, and the machine is designed to be manoeuvrable in urban areas, with a 10.7-metre turning circle and a length of less than 4.4 metres.

Buyers will also get a year of access to Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network, giving access to around 500,000 chargers by 2024. Customers who buy a fleet of five or more will also gain access to the Ford Pro E-Telematics platform that uses live data and analysis to offer tips on how to use the machines most efficiently.

The new E-Transit Courier is described by Ford as being larger “in every dimension”, offering a 2900-litre cargo bay that’s 25 per cent larger than before. The electric version will offer a 700kg payload – that’s up 118kg on the previous model’s diesel version – and 750kg towing capacity. And frunk fans will be delighted to note that there’s a 44-litre version for stowing charging cables and the like.

Ford says the interior of the model features a ‘customer-focused’ design, including what it calls a ‘squircle’ steering wheel claimed to offer improved leg room and visibility. The firm also says there’s plenty of flexible interior storage, including a foldaway flat surface large enough for a laptop or, for those a little more old-school, a pad of A4 paper.

There’s a 12in digital instrument display and a 12in central touchscreen featuring Ford’s latest infotainment system that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ford has also highlighted the security features on the model which can offer break-in alerts through Ford Pro software. A Fleet Start system allows fleet managers to remotely enable or disable the van, and there are factory-fit TVL lock packs that include an auto-locking sliding side door, and sensors to detect movement inside the vehicle.

Pricing for the E-Transit Courier has yet to be finalised, but Ford claims it will feature maintenance costs at least 35 per cent lower than diesel-powered models.

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