The first Ford E-Transit models will be on the roads soon. The electric vans will be available in the spring, but they must first undergo a rigorous testing program on European roads to verify that they meet Ford's high standards.
In Europe, a total of ten E-Transit prototypes are being tested now on the roads. They're all part of Ford's electric van test fleet, where each van must demonstrate its worth as a regular part of daily life for companies like DHL, AWB waste management, and Post Norge, among others. Regardless of whatever professions the vans join, the test program gives a clear picture of how the vans will perform the diverse labor activities that lie ahead of them.
The test program is part of Ford's E-Transit series' last phase of development. The test fleet includes standard vans, double cab in vans, and chassis with a total weight of 3.5-4.25 tons, representing all E-Transit models in the series. The firms test all of the models in the test fleet for six or twelve months.
Ford wants to show that helping consumers minimize their environmental footprint while improving their productivity can go hand in hand. The test program also allows us to illustrate to our customers the commercial benefits of E-Transit by providing tangible examples of the number of kilometers traveled on clean electricity. In addition, Ford gains vital knowledge and input from the test program, which it can use to improve the cars even further, according to Dave Petts from Ford's Urban Electrified Vans.
Ford E-Transit: A clever series for everyday challenges
All Ford E-Transit models are designed and built with the same design and flexibility as conventional Transit models. A subset of the test fleet has been outfitted with unique features to demonstrate how the vehicles can be tailored to customers' needs in their daily lives and workplaces. For example, some E-Transi cars have been altered to handle a rubbish bin in the back of the car as part of the waste sorting operation (powered by a 2.3 kW Pro Power Onboard system). In comparison, others have been converted to handle a refrigerated vehicle to handle food (powered by a 2.3 kW Pro Power Onboard system).
Ford was Europe's transport van leader in the last six years. This pattern is expected to continue in 2021. @via ford.co.uk.
