All-Electric Transit Van Coming for 2022 Model Year

Electrified Van

Ford recently announced a slew of upcoming changes for its entire commercial truck lineup. But perhaps the biggest news of all is the addition of an all-electric version of the Blue Oval's best-selling Transit Van, which is set to go on sale in the U.S. and Canada for the 2022 model year. The electrified Transit will be Ford's third EV, joining the Mustang Mach-E and forthcoming F-150 in what's shaping up to be a rapidly growing lineup.

Photos: Ford

Feel Good

The forthcoming electric Transit makes sense on a number of levels and presents commercial vehicle owners with a host of advantages. For starters, an EV van helps businesses achieve sustainability goals and lower cost of ownership while also helping cities improve air quality and reduce noise levels. But there's much more to the story than just those feel-good benefits.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Smart and Connected

Ford claims that the electric Transit will also be a highly connected, smart vehicle arming fleet owners with technology solutions like in-vehicle high-speed data architecture and cloud-based services to offer new ways to optimize fleet performance. And that's certain to appeal to this highly competitive market segment.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Eliminating Range Anxiety

The all-electric Transit will provide customers with a variety of options as well, including cargo van, cutaway, and chassis cab configurations, along with three roof heights and three body lengths. And unlike some other similar, upstart offerings, Ford is able to also provide a strong and established manufacturing base, easy parts availability, and an accessible service network. Not to mention a highly integrated upfitter network with access to the largest public charging network in North America. For those worried about range anxiety, that's obviously a big deal.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Exciting Tech

The proposed technology upgrades offered by the electric Transit are certainly enticing. Fleets can leverage data collected through Ford Telematics using an embedded FordPass Connect modem featuring a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices. Managers can use Ford Data Services tools like live map GPS tracking, geofencing, and vehicle diagnostics to see key performance indicators at a glance.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Critical Component

"Commercial vehicles are a critical component to our big bet on electrification," said Jim Farley, chief operating officer, Ford Motor Company. "As leaders in this space, we are accelerating our plans to create solutions that help businesses run better, starting with our all-electric Transit and F-150. This Ford Transit isn’t just about creating an electric drivetrain, it’s about designing and developing a digital product that propels fleets forward."

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

Making the Switch

The electric Transit is part of Ford's substantial $11.5 billion investment in electrification. And it figures to slot in perfectly with the automaker's existing and diverse Transit offerings, which have helped it retain the title of world's best-selling cargo van and America’s best-selling commercial van brand for 41 years now. What will be interesting to see, of course, is just how many fleet owners make the switch to electric power once that option becomes available.

Photos: Ford

>>Join the conversation about the new EV Transit Van right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!

For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com