Ford NZ to launch plug-in Transit van next year

Thursday, 7 November 2019

Ford is bringing the Transit plug-in hybrid to New Zealand - here's how it works.

After a slow start in the electrification field, Ford New Zealand is launching the first of its plug-in vehicles into the New Zealand market next year, but two of them probably aren't what you were expecting.

While the company has previously announced that it will be bringing the plug-in hybrid version of the next-generation Escape SUV here in 2020, it has also just revealed that it will be joined by two PHEV versions of the Transit - the Transit Custom and the Torneo eight-seat people mover.

With an electric NEDC driving range of up to 56km, the Transit Custom PHEV's front wheels are driven exclusively by a 92.9kW electric motor powered by a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This means that, despite Ford calling it a PHEV, the Transit is technically a range-extended EV, as the brilliant three-cylinder 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine doesn't actually drive the wheels, instead it only kicks in as a generator when the battery needs a charge.

The Torneo PHEV adds windows and a business lounge-like interior.

Ford claims a total driving range exceeding 500 kilometres, with a combined fuel consumption of 2.7 l/100 km fuel efficiency and 60 g/km CO2 emissions (again, using the NEDC test cycle).

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The charging point is mounted in the bumper, while the three-cylinder petrol engine increases range to more than 500km.

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The Transit PHEV comes with Ford's SYNC3 infotainment system, while dedicated battery gauges are an addition.

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The Transit PHEV is actually technically a range-extender, as the petrol engine doesn't actually drive the wheels.

Because the battery is package under the Transit's floor, it retains the standard van's 6.0m3 of load space, with a generous net payload of 1,130kg. Ford is covering the battery pack with a standard eight-year/160,000 km warranty as well.

The Tourneo Titanium eight-seat people-mover uses the same powertrain, but offers 'superior levels of refinement in a spacious rear compartment with unique-in-segment conference seating.'

Using a charging port located on the front bumper, the Transit can be charged in 4.3 hours using a domestic 240-volt 10-amp power supply, or 2.7 hours using a commercial type-2 AC vehicle charger and it has four selectable EV modes.

'EV Auto' monitors battery energy levels and the current driving scenario – such as whether motorway or stop-start driving – to decide whether to activate the range extender, while 'EV Now' prioritises using the battery for emissions-free driving, deactivating the range extender until battery levels reach a minimum state of charge.

'EV Later' prioritises the range extender and ups the regenerative charging to maintain the current level of battery charge, while 'EV Charge' fires up the range extender to power the vehicle and top up the battery for when further all-electric running is required at a later time. As you might have guessed the modes are strongly aimed at European cities with ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) and the European Transit also gets a geofencing feature that will automatically activate the pure-EV mode when entering a ULEZ.

Like many other EVs, the Transit allows drivers to choose the degree of energy recovery (and braking assistance) from the regenerative charging system. Selecting 'Low' on the gear selector will effectively turn the transit into a 'one pedal' driving vehicle, increasing the programmed deceleration and automatically illuminating the brake lights when necessary when the driver lifts off the throttle.

Ford's voice-activated SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch colour touchscreen that can be controlled with pinch and swipe gestures, is standard in bothe the Custom and Torneo, while driver assistance technologies include Active Park Assist and Lane-Keeping Alert.

An optional 12-volt Epower Pack will enable operators to run high-power electrical equipment such as power tools or site lights from the vehicle's high-voltage battery, using an easily accessible connection delivering up to 6 kW of power.

'Our customers want electrified vehicles, but many still have concerns about infrastructure and range,' said Simon Rutherford, managing director of Ford New Zealand.

'The new Transit Custom and Tourneo Plug-In Hybrids deliver the same well-renowned productivity capabilities combined with the ability to drive on zero-emission electric power and anxiety free ability to make longer journeys.'

While the Escape PHEV and the Transit/Torneo PHEV twins are the start of Ford finally getting into electrification, they are not the end by a long shot: a new all-electric Transit Cargo will join the Transit range in 2021, while the company has also announced that every new Ford passenger vehicle nameplate will include an electrified option from now on – either a mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric.

Ford NZ says it will announe prices for the Transit and Torneo PHEV closer to the launch date.