Ford Transit Custom: Starting in 2023, also fully electric

The van manufacturer Ford has officially announced the launch of the Transit Custom for next year - and already, the first test mules of the new compact van in the 3.0-ton segment have been caught on camera in Southern Europe. While initial models were based on the current design, the latest scoops show vehicles built on the upcoming platform that Ford is also developing for its cooperation partner Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. However, as before, there will also be a diesel version with a Ford Eco-Blue engine, as well as a plug-in hybrid (possibly with the VW system instead of the current and less convincing Ford range extender solution) and a mild hybrid with the familiar 48-volt components. Only the pure electric version is truly new to the lineup. In this regard, it is likely to set new benchmarks in terms of performance, power, and charging technology, leveraging the e-drive technology from the E-Transit. If the manufacturer takes cues from the larger E-Van, which is rolling out this year, it could at least offer the lower power setting of the rear-wheel electric drive, providing 135 kW of power and 430 Nm of torque, which is more than sufficient.

The range should exceed the 320 kilometers of the larger sister model if the manufacturer retains the 68 kW net battery capacity for the smaller model. The charging technology should also be carried over, meaning 11 kW in AC and 115 kW in DC. The latter should enable an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Another fixed feature will likely be the ability to use the electric van as a 2.3 kW power outlet. Additionally, the 160,000-kilometer warranty on high-voltage components and the modern Sync4 infotainment systems, including telematics, will likely secure their place in the "mid-range" segment.