VM Test Report Ford E-Transit: Electric Vehicle Outshines Combustion Engine

Charging at 11 kW is Standard, Fast Charging up to 115 kW

On the charging side, the vehicle is equipped with an onboard charger with a power output of 11.3 kW, allowing the e-van to charge from 0 to 100 percent in just over eight hours. Fast charging is done at up to 115 kW, which means that the Transit can charge from 15 to 80 percent under optimal conditions in 34 minutes. The battery pack is located between the vehicle's frame and is specially protected against side collisions.

Driving Impression: Modern Times in a Classic

The first thing that stands out is a new start button where you would normally insert the key. Additionally, the vehicle has a new electric parking brake located under the light switch on the left side of the dashboard. There is also a new driver recognition function that locks the brake as soon as the driver gets up from the driver's seat. This prevents the vehicle from rolling away. The vehicle is set to crawl slowly when the gas pedal is released, making low-speed maneuvers easier. The vehicles feature regenerative braking, which recovers varying amounts of energy depending on the total weight and speed. Regeneration can be activated by the L-position in the middle of the rotary switch, the most obvious option, which we felt most comfortable with.

Many Ways to Regenerate

The second option is a first in a utility vehicle: three stages of regeneration can be activated via the pedals. The first stage when releasing the gas pedal, the second by lightly pressing the brake pedal, and the last with a double press of the brake pedal. The last stage seems unintuitive, but I might change my mind after driving more than half an hour. Personally, we prefer the option to let the vehicle roll without it starting to regenerate and brake immediately when releasing the gas pedal. This allows better use of the vehicle's kinetic energy, especially on familiar routes. In the E-Transit, energy recovery begins immediately, making it necessary to hold the gas pedal during gentle descents where coasting would normally be expected.

New Rear Axle Provides Good Comfort

The new independent rear axle with coil springs provides very comfortable suspension for the vehicle, even when the test van was not loaded. The vehicle steers precisely and is generally very easy to drive. However, we find the electromechanical steering itself somewhat cumbersome when maneuvering and driving on the road. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a new 360-degree camera. This can be activated with a button below the screen and used at low speeds.

The drive itself features three driving modes. Eco reduces the motor power of the largest motor to 135 kW and a top speed of 120 km/h, plus "Normal" and one for slippery driving conditions. From the very first impression, the rear motor provides brisk acceleration, which in no way falls short of the similarly torquey 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel, especially since the torque is available from the start. Additionally, it is of course much quieter than the growling diesel engine.

Dedicated Electrification Line in the Factory

The Ford-Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, has recently been significantly renovated to increase production. Demand for Ford vans is currently very high, and the next Volkswagen van will also be built at the plant in the near future. To electrify the Transit, a new hall was built for the E-Transit. Both the installation of the battery and the new rear axle are carried out here. There is also a separate line for building the batteries. The electric vehicle is expected to hit the market in spring 2022. Prices for Germany have not been set yet, but the starting price for the UK is expected to be £42,000, so a very attractive price for the class, likely under €50,000, could be anticipated here as well.    Torbjørn Eriksen/jr