Image Credit: Ford Australia
Ford Australia has unveiled pricing and specifications for the new E-Transit Custom electric and plug in hybrid (PHEV) vans, ahead of the first deliveries which are expected to start in the third quarter.
Four new variants were introduced, available in either fully electric or PHEV, and in both Short Wheelbase (SWB) and Long Wheelbase (LWB) configurations.
Pricing starts at $67,590 for the Transit Custom PHEV Trend LWB, before grading up to $69,990 for the Transit Custom PHEV Sport SWB.
The all-electric 64kWh E-Transit Custom starts from $77,590 for the Trend LWB and $79,990 for the Sport SWB variant. (All prices exclude dealer delivery and statutory charges.)
| VARIANT | MLP (Incl. GST) |
| Transit Custom PHEV Trend LWB | $67,590 |
| Transit Custom PHEV Sport SWB | $69,990 |
| E-Transit Custom Trend LWB | $77,590 |
| E-Transit Custom Sport SWB | $79,990 |
“While the comprehensive equipment list and low- or zero-emission powertrains will appeal, it’s the ability to go the distance with lower operating costs, without sacrificing cargo space, that Transit Custom owners have been asking for,” said John Hatzimanolis, director of customer experience and sales at Ford Australia.
“Around Australia, many fleet operators and business owners depend on the Transit Custom for its versatility, capability and long list of convenience and safety features.
The arrival of the new E-Transit Custom and Transit Custom PHEV ensures that customers have more efficient options to suit their needs, without compromising on safety, equipment, cargo space, or aftersales support.”
All four variants carry the same load space as their turbo-diesel Transit Custom LWB and SWB counterparts, measuring in at 6-cubic-metres and 5.2-cubic-metres respectively. Maximum payload ranges from between 1,111kg to 1,206kg depending on the variant, while braked towing capacity sits at 2.3 tonnes.
Both all-electric E-Transit Customs are powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that generates 160kW of power and 415Nm of torque thanks to a 64kWh battery.
When plugged into a DC charger, the E-Transits can charge from 15-80% in 32 minutes at a charging rate of 125kW or can fully charge from empty in approximately 6.7 hours using an 11kW AC charger.
In an effort to maximise range, particularly during winter, the E-Transit Customs are fitted with a Vapour Injected Heat Pump, which recycles heat from the powertrain for use through the digital climate control system.
Further, One-Pedal Driving Mode helps to intuitively control the vehicle’s speed using only the accelerator pedal, allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop without needing to engage the brake in certain situations.
The two PHEV Transit Customs are powered by a 111kW/320Nm electric motor and 86kW/209Nm 2.5L petrol engine, generating a combined power output of 171kW across a wide powerband, and boasting an official WLTP fuel economy rating of just 1.7L/100km and an electric-only range of up to 54km from a liquid-cooled 11.8kWh battery.
Both PHEVs offer three EV drive modes: Auto EV automatically deploys a combination of petrol and electric power to optimise driving range and performance; EV Now operates solely on the electric motor; while EV Later utilises the 2.5L petrol motor and preserves battery charge for when the driver chooses to switch back to either Auto EV or EV Now modes.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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View Comments
The PHEV model makes no sense.
Don't they know their target audience and intended use?
Also, $10k more for the EV!
It won't take long to make up the $10K in fuel savings!!
That's before the servicing savings!
Agree, battery too small (and petrol engine too big). I'm not a fan of PHEV at the best of times but this looks like the specs were decided years ago when battery prices were much higher. Better to have planned/bet for a larger battery and expected the prices to reduce as they have.
That 10k extra for the EV is just extortion. After all, it is subtracting an entire engine system (engine, generator, exhaust, fuel system etc) and simply increasing battery size by 52kWh. The difference in costs should be about the same, given the current cost of batts of sub US$100/kWh.
E-Transit Custom Trend has a WLTP Driving Range of 301km
E-Transit Custom Sport has a WLTP Driving Range of 307km
The idea that fuel usage of a Ford PHEV is going to achieve 1.7L per 100km is rubbish. This is as big a lie as Toyota claim for many of their PHEVs.
We need to demand Range Extension EVs to replace PHEVs. PHEVs are worse than the Full Hybrid for most vehicles today. The only thing worse seems to be Mild Hybrid which is worse than the cheaper non hybrid models of Toyota and others.
Why this hatred towards PHEV? Do you own one? Well, I do and my fuel consumption is 0.4L/100km in almost a year, no range anxiety and it's fun to drive and flexible. Only caveat, my battery is 20kwh giving 100km range, but I charge it to 80% anyway. Before you say anything about the extra weight of the engine, think about it, it still weighs less than BEV but gives me over 1000km range. They really are the best of both worlds.