everything will be fine thanks to Ford Liive

Zapping Autonews Green The car concepts of the year 2022 in video

In the more or less near future, it will become more and more complicated to drive around town (ZFE, total ban on Diesel, etc.) and micro-hybridization, already available on the Transit, will not be enough. An all-electric version therefore became essential to offer at least one solution, for craftsmen or last-mile deliverers in urban landscapes.

The constabulary will let this clean E-Transit circulate freely following having recognized its front face, whose grid is underlined with blue stripes or by the “E-transit” logo plated on the back. Of course, its silence of use is also a small revolution, especially when stationary and it changes us from Diesels left on during delivery. That’s it for the most glaring exterior differences, the rest is strictly identical to any Transit, including many possible variations: as a van of different lengths and heights (L2, L3, L4 and H2, H3), in single-length but multiple-height crew cab (L3 and H2, H3) and two-length single cab (L3, L4). All at GVWs ranging from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes, with a maximum gross payload of 1,758 kg on van (2,090 kg on single cab) and maximum towing load of 750 kg.

Note that the 390 and 425 versions are homologated in category N2, but can be driven with a B license (limited to 90 km/h and tachograph compulsory, however).

A good level of equipment

Ford E-TransitCredit Photo – Ford

Ford offers the E-Transit in 2 finishes. Trend (only on 3.5 tons) which already includes as standard the huge 12-inch touch screen with Sync 4 interface (a bit of Mach-E on board!), air conditioning, heated seats and driving modes (Normal, Eco and Slippery). Then Trend Business (all versions) adds on-board navigation, completes the adaptive cruise control with lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance. The switching on of the lights and automatic wipers is also included, as is the leather-effect multifunction steering wheel, which is very pleasant in the hand. 2 12 V sockets, two USB ports (including one USB C) and a 230 V socket are also present in the passenger compartment.

In addition to an electric control for the side door (at the button in the passenger compartment), the E-Transit is fitted with a panel with 2 230V/2.3 kW electrical outlets allowing, for example, the connection of site tools (saw circular, compressor, vacuum cleaner, etc.). Its management is integrated into the Sync 4 interface and the Pro Power Reserve system guarantees a reserve of electrical energy to return to the depot without fear of a Watts failure. Practice.

The strongest power, the strongest range

Ford E-TransitCredit Photo – Ford

The architecture of the E-Transit distributes the majority of the secondary components at the front (the spare wheel too), the battery pack is in the center of the chassis and the electric motor at the rear, which makes it a pure propulsion . It also benefits from a rear suspension with independent wheels and progressive springs, which makes the E-Transit more comfortable over obstacles even if the loading sill is consequently raised by 4 cm. A technical choice necessary to accommodate the electric motor which remains quite low despite everything and potentially vulnerable to shocks.

Ford has let loose in terms of performance with two power levels: 135 kW (184 hp) and 198 kW (269 hp), for a fixed torque of 430 Nm. The E-Transit is thus well ahead of its competitors and provides silent and tonic accelerations at the same time, even on our model loaded with 750 Kg. However, the strongest power will correspond especially to large well loaded rolling cubes knowing that, if necessary to optimize the autonomy, activate the Eco mode limits the power to 135 kW, the power of the first version.

Ford hasn’t skimped on battery capacity either. With 75 kWh (68 useful kWh), it’s practically double the competition! All with a direct current charging power of 115 kW, allowing to recover from 15 to 80% of battery in 34 min. With the 11.3 kW on-board charger, it takes just over 8 hours, that’s the price to pay for “strong” autonomy. Which theoretically reaches up to 317 km on the most agile version (390 L2H2).

However, professionals must always be aware of what they have in their hands. Even with this E-Transit, the autonomy is very strongly impacted by various parameters, the loading first but also the average speed, the outside temperature, the use of air conditioning or heating… The competitor Renault also offers a simulator on its pro site which shows things well. Between driving in ideal conditions (empty, 30 km/h under 20 degrees) or in the most restrictive (at least 1 ton of load, 90 km/h at -15 degrees and fully heated), there are 120 km of theoretical difference in autonomy. With the E-Transit, there would be 200 km available to evolve, it’s a lot and a little at the same time. The current charging infrastructures will also decide the organization of the teams (or the sacrificed employee). From the place of lunch for example, if it needs to charge. Which can potentially mean repacking all the equipment while carrying out the operation, crossing your fingers so that the terminal is of the fast type and not too far from the workplace either. Experience observed during a shoot in a Paris car park: 2 carpenters who were planning to take advantage of a socket at their place of work to recharge their vehicle were quickly disillusioned when the said socket was ultimately not operational. Knowing that professionals also need to use the vehicle’s electric range to plug in their tools, imagine the level of stress all of a sudden! Of course, they mightn’t afford to waste the day’s work to sort out this charging issue. The day thus ended empty battery and the machine remained on the spot all night, the time to find a means of operating the wall socket. Great.

Of course, everything can very well happen too, but you really don’t need the slightest grain of sand in the whole chain of use of the vehicle.

Ford Liive Support

Ford E-TransitCredit Photo – Ford

Ford is well aware that not everything always goes as planned, with electric as with any work vehicle. This is why the manufacturer has launched the Ford Liive ecosystem on a global scale. It includes full support for companies and their vehicle fleets: on-board connectivity suitable for remote management and monitoring, and maintenance planning and management. All this via a single point of contact between the service and the fleet manager.

Did you know ? Since 2009, all Ford vans (excluding Courier) have been fitted with a connected modem as standard. A pre-equipment that made remote monitoring and maintenance possible. Made concrete by the Ford Pass Pro, the application that monitors the state of health of the vehicle (oil, fuel, adBlue, tire pressures, etc.) and preconditions the cabin or manages refills in the case of e-Transit. For fleet managers (more than 5 vehicles), Ford has added Ford Telematics. In its free Essential version, it brings together in one piece of software all the health statuses of the vehicles in the fleet. At 20 euros/month/vehicle, Telematics (very short) makes it possible to go much further with real-time geolocation, fuel consumption at time T and even monitoring of driver behavior (a door not closed properly while driving, speeding, a blown fire, etc.). This is enough to optimize operating costs and guarantee good driving behavior, even if, from here, we can already feel the possible tensions between drivers and team leaders.

In terms of maintenance, all the data collected goes back instantly to the PTS software of the Ford Liive agent, but also of the workshop manager. They will thus be able to understand each other quickly and organize tailor-made support in the Transit Centers (85 in France) which have the facilities and stocks (mostly) necessary for the proper maintenance of the utilities.

The objective of this connected and optimized ecosystem is to simplify communication between the companies and the manufacturer, but also for Ford to have a better hierarchical internal organization. More effective exchanges for one purpose: to reduce vehicle downtime as much as possible.

and bref

Our journalist-tester offers you his test of the electric Ford Transit. A vehicle intended for road professionals for which the American manufacturer is setting up tools to apprehend the transition to all-electric.