Cost-Conscious Ford Transit City Electric Urban Delivery Van Revealed
Ford has formally revealed its all-new electric urban delivery van, the Ford Transit City, which promises to offer Transit Custom-like space on a stripped-back budget.
Set to become the fifth spin-off from the Transit brand name – and the first new badge since the Transit Custom was split into its own line in 2012 – the Transit City is due to arrive on UK shores later in the year.
While the Transit City sits relatively close to the Ford Transit Custom medium van in terms of dimensions, it has been designed with a specific focus to provide a simpler solution for urban delivery fleets, multi-drop couriers and last-mile delivery services.
Primarily the Transit City is aimed at those who require the space of a large van without the upfront expense of an electric van capable of more range than is needed on a day-to-day basis.
It means the Transit City will be strategically priced between the Ford E-Transit Courier and the Ford E-Transit Custom, despite payload and load space specifications being similar to the latter.
Ford Transit City: Three Body Styles, Including Chassis Cab
The Ford Transit City will be offered in three body styles from launch – L1/H1, L2/H2 and chassis cab.
The latter is of particular importance to Ford as it represents the first time it has produced an electric-powered chassis cab capable of plus-tonne of payload. It is designed for conversions, including delivery vans, dropsides and Luton box.
In L1/H1 guise, the Transit City has capacity for three Euro pallets and a payload of 1085kg. Load length is 2770mm, which is longer than the Transit Custom L1/H1’s 2602mm load length.
With no H2 variant of the Transit Custom available, the Transit City L2/H2 meets the brief for a taller van. As such, it offers a capacious 8.5 cubic metres of load space, plus a payload of 1275kg and a load length of over three metres.
Transit City L1/H1 – Capacity for three Euro pallets, 1085kg payload, load length 2770mm
Transit City L2/H2 – Up to 8.5 cu m of load space, 1275kg of payload, load length over 3000mm
Transit City Chassis Cab – Plus-one tonne of payload, conversion into delivery van, tipper, dropside or Luton box.
Ford Transit City: Simplicity is King
The Ford Transit City has been developed around specific feedback from urban firms and fleets seeking a cost-conscious, yet spacious and flexible electric van with a simple line-up.
As such, while there are three body styles, there is just one specification and one battery available, at least from launch.
Power comes from a 56kWh useable capacity lithium-iron phosphate battery with a target range of 158-miles.
While this is quite a lot less than both the E-Transit Courier and E-Transit Custom, Ford says it has conducted research that suggests 90 per cent of vans in the Transit City’s target demographic drive less than 70-miles a day.
By meeting those needs specifically, the Transit City can therefore come in at a much more affordable price point, while it also speeds up recharging times to reduce downtime.
Ford quotes a 10-80 per cent charge in half-an-hour at 67kW, or adding around 50km (31-miles) of range in ten minutes. A standard 11kW AC charger will go from 10-100 per cent in 5.2-hours.
The single specification includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic emergency braking, front/rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
Drivers will also potentially appreciate the decidedly conventional interior, which features a smaller touchscreen than the Transit Custom, plus rotary dials for heating controls.
Where Will the Ford Transit City Be Built?
The Ford Transit City has been made possible via a joint venture with Chinese partners, Jiangling Motors Corporation.
It means the Transit City will be built in China alongside a similar model that will be sold with JMC branding.
As a result, the Ford Transit City shares no common platforms with other models in the Transit range, which are built in Romania and Turkey.
Ford is set to open the order books for the Transit City this Spring before deliveries begin towards the end of 2026.
