Coming soon: Ford E-Transit Courier small electric van

Key details about the Ford E-Transit Courier 

• Ford’s smallest electric van joins e-Transit and E-Transit Custom 
• Priced from around £28,000 (est, excl. VAT) 
• 134bhp and 100kW rapid charging capability 
• On sale in 2024 

What is it? 

The third instalment of Ford’s electric van range, and about as important to van drivers as TikTok is to teenagers. 

Enjoying huge popularity with everyone from small business owners to large fleets, the old Transit Courier was a big player. The key news for both markets is this new model is prepared for the electric era, launching as an EV in 2024 alongside existing petrol and diesel versions.  

It’ll join the already established Ford e-Transit large panel-van and recently unveiled medium-sized e-Transit Custom (due to arrive later this summer). The e-Transit Courier’s main competitors include the Renault Kangoo E-Tech and Peugeot e-Partner.  

Why should I get excited? 

Forget electric supercars for a moment. The Ford e-Transit Courier matters because it’s part of the global phenomenon that is the Transit family: well over eight million have been sold, and Transits outsold any car in the UK in 2022.  

The e-Transit Courier is also crucial as white van man goes green. Large businesses and fleets are rapidly switching over to electric vans, and for a small van such as this being able to roll around cities quietly and without local pollution – thus avoiding congestion zone and clean air zone charges - is a huge deal.   

Another benefit for private and business buyers alike? Ford claims a massive 35% reduction in non-scheduled maintenance costs compared with diesel versions of the Transit Courier. 

And this new model isn’t just an update, it’s an all-new van from the ground-up, which is why it looks very different from the old Transit Courier. 

Styling is all well and good, but this is a van after all. The biggest news on that front is that the Courier’s cargo volume is said to be 26% more than the outgoing model. 

A wider body allows a bigger cargo area, with increased volume (up to 2.9m3) and the ability to carry two Euro pallets for the first time.  

A load-through bulkhead feature allows you to load extra-long pipes or bits of wood over 260cm long. The e-Transit Courier’s maximum payload is 700kg, and the towing limit is 750kg. 

It looks good. But what’s it like inside? 

Being a compact van doesn’t mean a back-to-basics interior. Far from it in fact. The design of the e-Transit Courier’s cab is all-new, with a square-edged steering wheel (Ford calls it ‘squircle’ which sounds like a Pokemon character) and a gearlever mounted on the steering column. This, including a starter button instead of a key and a new electric handbrake, is said to free up extra storage space and legroom.  

There’s also car-like tech including a 12-inch digital instrument display and a 12-inch touchscreen running Ford’s new SYNC 4 software. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and drivers can subscribe to features such as connected navigation. A built-in modem adds further connectivity and allows Tesla-style over-the-air updates. 

Utility has been thought of, too: the optional Office Pack brings a foldaway work surface and special lighting – ideal for filling out paperwork. 

Safety and security tech includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring and Stop & Go, Cross Traffic Alert and Reverse Brake Assist to help reduce low-speed collisions. Meanwhile ‘Fleet Start Inhibit’ can allow fleet managers to remotely disable the E-Transit Courier if it’s stolen or misused. 

How far can I drive it on a charge? 

Sadly Ford is yet to quote a range figure for the electric E-Transit Courier – we’d expect it to be at least 200 miles given the larger E-Transit Custom manages 236 miles.  

We do know some technical details, including that power will come from a single 134bhp electric motor. One-pedal driving capability will make it super easy to drive around town, while DC fast charging speeds of up to 100kW are quoted. 

Ford says that’s sufficient to add 54 miles of range in ten minutes and top up from 10-80% in 35 minutes. Most customers are expected to charge at home or at a depot, though: an 11kW AC charger can take it from empty to full in under six hours. 

Ford claims to have made the charging experience easier with Ford Pro software, allowing simplified billing and admin for fleet users. Each E-Transit Courier comes complete with a year’s free access to the BlueOval Charge Network: Ford claims this will incorporate 500,000 ‘Plug and Charge’ public chargers by 2024.  

If you’re a fleet customer buying five or more vehicles, you’ll also get free access to Ford Pro E-Telematics for a year, which uses live data to show each vehicle’s charging status and state-of-charge to reduce downtime.  

When is it available to buy or lease? 

Sadly, if you’re after an e-Transit Courier Ford will make you wait until next year. Expect orders to open early in 2024, however.

Ford hasn’t confirmed any pricing for the e-Transit Courier, either. Estimates including the UK government’s £2500 plug-in van grant give it a starting price of about £28,000 before VAT.  

Need a small electric van but can’t wait another year? Why not check out the Peugeot e-Partner, an affordable small electric van that’s available to order now through GRIDSERVE. 

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