Ford Pro today unveiled the E-Transit Courier, an all-new all-electric commercial vehicle 1 that offers improved connectivity and productivity for compact van customers.

Extending Ford Pro’s range of innovative, electrified and connected cargo vans, the all-new E-Transit Courier is fully integrated with Ford Pro’s software and connected services platform, further promoting efficient operation, including end-to-end charging solutions as and Ford Pro Software management tools.

To further enhance productivity, the E-Transit Courier has been completely redesigned to benchmark a larger and more flexible cargo area, which offers 25% more capacity than the outgoing model, combined with improved features such as an increased payload 2 and space available for two euro pallets.

Part of Ford’s global effort to lead the electric vehicle revolution through an investment of more than $50 billion, the E-Transit Courier is the next step in the electrification of commercial vehicles in the iconic Transit family. The new model now joins the larger E-Transit and E-Transit Custom in the Ford Pro portfolio.

“The E-Transit Courier takes its class to the next level with unmatched EV performance, greater cargo capacity and fully connected support, including end-to-end charging solutions, Ford Pro E-Telematics features and the FORDLiive system,” said Hans Schep, general manager of Ford Pro in Europe. “Ford Pro’s long-standing market leadership gives us unparalleled insight into customer needs, which means we can help them increase productivity from their compact vans with more connectivity and capabilities than ever before.”

The all-new E-Transit Courier will make its public debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, UK, from April 18-20, and is scheduled to enter production later in 2024. Customers will be able to order Transit Courier models with petrol and diesel engines from summer 2023 for delivery before the end of the year.

Fully electric productivity and charging solutions

The E-Transit Courier’s all-electric powertrain is designed to offer customers an unmatched driving experience, featuring a powerful 100 kW motor and one-pedal driving. All performance and range details will be confirmed closer to launch.

Ford Pro Charging offers a complete, end-to-end solution for charging at home, in a garage and at a public station, including the installation of the relevant hardware and management software that help optimize the charging process. Simplified billing and management through Ford Pro Charging software also supports businesses whose drivers take their work vehicle home, as well as simplifying the public charging process.

Ford Pro believes the E-Transit Courier will be popular with customers who charge at home. Ford Pro Charging targets an 11kW home AC overnight charge in 5.7 hours, 3 the latter of which can be programmed to allow the customer to benefit from cheaper overnight energy tariffs using the vehicle’s touch screen or the garage charging software.

For support at public charging stations, the vehicle offers a DC fast charging capability of up to 100 kW. Ford expects the system can add 87 kilometers of range in 10 minutes, while charging from 10% to 80% will take less than 35 minutes. 3 The E-Transit Courier also comes with one year of free access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which will include 500,000 public chargers by 2024.

Customers with five or more vehicles can also benefit from free one-year access to Ford Pro E-Telematics personalized features. 4 The system uses real-time data to help maximize productivity and provide features that support efficient and intuitive use of Ford Pro Charging. These include current state of charge, vehicle state of charge and remaining range with customizable low range alert thresholds.

Plug and Charge allows E-Transit Courier owners to simply plug the vehicle in and out when using compatible BlueOval Charge Network chargers. In this case charging starts automatically and a bill and a charge summary are sent to the owner after disconnection. To go more kilometers between charges, the cloud-powered Intelligent Range collects data to provide even more accurate range values.

Customer-centric design

The E-Transit Courier’s all-new body design offers increased load capacity in all dimensions. The width between the rear wheel arches is 1,220 mm, allowing the compact van to carry two Euro pallets for the first time. The total cargo volume is now 2.9 m3, a value 25% greater than that of the outgoing model. This volume can be further increased by using a new feature found in the cabin and cargo space divider, which allows customers to carry items such as planks or pipes over 2.6m long. The maximum payload for the all-electric model is 700 kg and the maximum towing weight is 750 kg. 5

The E-Transit Courier helps businesses stand out by featuring a bold and distinctive exterior design combined with a spacious and practical interior designed around the needs of compact van users. The all-new model offers a highly comprehensive standard equipment that includes unique features. Such as the squircle steering wheel, which ensures improved legroom and better driver visibility, the steering column-mounted gear selector, engine start button and electronic parking brake, which combine to offer a comparatively increased configurable storage space.

The “digiboard” instrument panel includes a digital cluster with a 12-inch screen in front of the driver and a central 12-inch touchscreen supported by Ford’s latest SYNC 4 system. 6 Subscription-based Connected Navigation 7 can increase productivity and reduce driver workload by providing updates on traffic, parking, charging and local hazards. Wireless compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard. 8 The innovative and unique in its category Office Pack includes a folding flat work surface and lighting that make using a laptop, filling out documents or taking a break in the cabin easier and more comfortable.

The safety of both driver and cargo is a primary concern for managers and Ford Pro. The E-Transit Courier sets a new benchmark in the segment with its comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard equipment. 9 An optional extra package includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering and Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Intersection Assist and Reverse Brake Assist for more peace of mind when driving in an urban environment. 9

Every E-Transit Courier has a built-in modem as standard equipment, 10 which supports continuous connectivity with the Ford Pro ecosystem and wireless software updates that can evolve the vehicle’s capabilities over time without requiring a dealer visit.

Improved protection and cost of ownership

After enabling the onboard modem, operators can take advantage of enhanced vehicle protection alerts for collisions and intrusions through Ford Pro Software. With Fleet Start Inhibit, fleet managers can remotely enable and disable the E-Transit Courier to prevent theft or unauthorized use of the vehicle outside of business hours.

To improve protection without the time and cost of aftermarket solutions, Ford Pro has teamed up with vehicle security specialists TVL to offer factory fitment lock packages for the E-Transit Courier. Packages include secondary hook locks to protect against theft attempts, as well as automatic locking of the sliding side door to reduce driver workload and speed delivery times.

Ford Pro Service estimates that unscheduled maintenance costs for the E-Transit Courier will be at least 35% lower than diesel models. The all-new van is supported by the same comprehensive Ford Pro Service network, which includes the ever-expanding capabilities of Mobile Service, the unique FORDLiive connected uptime system and the largest network of exclusive commercial vehicle dealers in Europe – just like the rest of the Transit family.

The all-new Transit Courier will be available for the first time in 2023 with a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines. The range features van and double-cab-in-van body styles and includes a selection of attractive trim levels, such as the high-spec Limited and Active models.

All models will be built in Craiova, Romania by Ford Otosan, maker of the best-selling Transit Custom and the pioneer in the E-Transit segment. 11 Ford Otosan is the largest producer of commercial vehicles in Europe, with annual production expected to exceed 900,000 units by 2025.