A Gripping Read: How We Made E-Transit Custom All-Wheel Drive
The Ford E-Transit Custom is the electric version of Europe’s bestselling van 1 – the lifeblood of businesses that are worth over €1 trillion to the EU and UK. 2
Since spring 2024, E-Transit Custom has been enabling small and medium enterprises to transition to electric power and achieve new levels of productivity for their business.
Now, Ford Pro is enhancing the electric one-tonne van for even greater capability with improved driving range and charge times.
And not just for new customers. E-Transit Custom vans already on the road benefit from effortless over-the-air updates too.
Let’s dive into what’s new, and what it means for E-Transit Custom operators.
“For Ford Pro, a vehicle leaving the production line is just the start of our journey with the customer.”Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe
Q: What are the key improvements to the E-Transit Custom's battery?
A: An upgraded battery pack increases the useable battery capacity for new E-Transit Custom vehicles from 64 kWh to 71 kWh. This enhancement applies to vehicles built from early 2026.
Q: How does the upgraded battery pack impact the driving range for businesses?
A: This larger battery capacity means the van can be driven more than 10 per cent further between recharges – up to 373 km of zero-tailpipe emission driving. 3
That means businesses can cover more ground and operate longer, more efficient routes to get more done in a working day.
Q: Charging speed can be crucial for businesses to maximise uptime. What improvements have been made there?
A: For E-Transit Custom vans built from early 2026, a 10-80 per cent charge using a 125 kW DC fast charger will take approximately 29 minutes. 4 That’s a 10-minute saving compared to before, and it means you can add around 111 km of driving range in just 10 minutes – perfect for quick top-ups during a busy workday.
Q: What about E-Transit Custom vans already on the road? Will current owners benefit from improvements too?
A: Yes. Over-the-air (OTA) updates are a powerful feature within the Ford Pro ecosystem and on this occasion enable DC fast charging upgrades for E-Transit Custom vans 5 already on the road and hard at work.
Owners will see the 10-80 per cent charge time for their 64 kWh (useable) battery pack reduced by approximately 14 minutes, bringing it down to about 25 minutes. 4
Again, this will help businesses and sole traders who need to make every minute count during their working day.
Q: What else can customers expect from their E-Transit Custom?
A: E-Transit Custom offers a diverse range of powertrains and body styles for all sorts of customer use cases. The electric drivetrain includes 100 kW, 160 kW, or 210 kW options as well as a highly-capable all-wheel drive (AWD) option for enhanced traction – ideal for businesses in the Nordic, Alpine and Highlands regions.
There are Van, Double-cab-in-van, Kombi, and MultiCab versions for carrying different combinations of people, tools, packages and more. And the electric van is made more versatile with clever technologies like Pro Power Onboard 6 that can turn it into a mobile power plant, a 13-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen 7 and 5G connectivity, 8 a Vapour-Injected Heat Pump that can optimise driving range in colder weather… and not forgetting core capabilities like up to 2,300 kg towing capacity. 9
Like every Ford Pro commercial vehicle, E-Transit Custom also seamlessly integrates with Ford Pro's comprehensive suite of Charging, Software, and Service solutions to reducing ownership costs and boost productivity.
“We’re committed to ensuring businesses get the best out of their vehicles, by continuing to enhance the product once it’s in their hands and delivering a full ecosystem of Ford Pro software and services for maximum productivity.”Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe
Q: What about business owners who are not quite ready to make the jump to electric?
A: We’ve got them covered. The Transit Custom lineup also includes plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 10 and Ford EcoBlue diesel powertrains, 11 with the same wide variety of body styles and comprehensive series line-up.
Q: What about the E-Tourneo Custom? Does the multi-activity vehicle receive updates too?
A:Yes, the E-Tourneo Custom uses the same powertrain as the E-Transit Custom and vehicles built from early 2026 will also receive the enhanced battery pack.
Customers of existing E-Tourneo Custom vehicles will also see their DC fast charging times reduced via OTA.
Jeff Harris is brand manager for Transit Custom in Europe
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1 Based on S&P Global Mobility sales data full year 2024. Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
2The Economics of Commercial Van Usage Across Europe, 2024
3 Up to 373 km driving range based on full charge of E-Transit Custom rear-wheel drive 2026 model year. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown are for comparability purposes and should only be compared with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. Actual range varies due to factors such as temperature, driving behaviour, route profile, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and condition.
4 Actual charge times and charging speeds will vary according to the type of home or public charging station used, as well as other factors (including weather, ambient temperature, driving behaviour, driving profile, vehicle condition, lithium-ion battery age, condition, and temperature).
5 Up to 337 km driving range based on full charge of E-Transit Custom rear-wheel drive 2025 model year. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown are for comparability purposes and should only be compared with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. Actual range varies due to factors such as temperature, driving behaviour, route profile, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and condition.
6 See Owner’s Manual for important operating instructions.
7 Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.
8 Connected service and features depend on network availability and compatible plan. 5G not available everywhere. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features. Connected service excludes Wi-Fi hotspot. Available Wi-Fi hotspot requires separate subscription.
9 Max towing varies based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers.
10 Ford Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid homologated CO2 emissions 86-110 g/km WLTP, homologated fuel efficiency 3.8-4.9 l/100 km WLTP and pure electric driving range 46-55 km WLTP.
11 Ford Transit Custom EcoBlue diesel homologated CO2 emissions 183-238 g/km WLTP, homologated fuel efficiency 9.0-9.1 l/100 km WLTP. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2-emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.
