Ford Reveals Plans for All-Electric Transit
The world’s top-selling cargo van—the Ford Transit—is going electric, the American manufacturer has announced. Beginning in the 2022 model year, Ford will offer an all-electric version of the Transit, joining the previously announced Mustang Mach-E and all-electric F-150.
“Commercial vehicles are a critical component to our big bet on electrification,” said Jim Farley, chief operating officer, Ford Motor Company. “As leaders in this space, we are accelerating our plans to create solutions that help businesses run better, starting with our all-electric Transit and F-150. This Ford Transit isn’t just about creating an electric drivetrain, it’s about designing and developing a digital product that propels fleets forward.”
The all-electric Transit, which will be American-built, is part of Ford’s more than $11.5 billion investment in electrification through 2022.
“The world is heading toward electrified products and fleet customers are asking for them now,” said Farley. “We know their vehicles operate as a connected mobile business and their technology needs are different than retail customers. So Ford is thinking deeply on connectivity relationships that integrate with our in-vehicle high-speed electrical architectures and cloud-based data services to provide these businesses smart vehicles beyond just the electric powertrains.”
Smart technology built into the all-electric Transit helps to optimize fleet efficiency and reduce waste, the company says. Fleets will be able to leverage insightful data collected through Ford Telematics using an embedded FordPass Connect modem featuring a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices. Managers can use Ford Data Services tools like live map GPS tracking, geofencing and vehicle diagnostics to see key performance indicators at a glance for vehicle and driver.
The all-electric Transit will be offered in a variety of chassis options, including cargo van, cutaway and chassis cab, plus three roof heights and three body lengths.
Further details about the all-electric Ford Transit and its features will be revealed later.
