Key points of Ford Transit Customer Plug-in Hybrid range extender van

  • Dunton-developed Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid van capable of full electric operation for most inner-city use
  • Five fleets selected in first wave of confirmed participants for plug-in hybrid van trial
  • New London-based Ford Smart Mobility trial designed to explore how vans could contribute to air quality improvements, whilst boosting commercial productivity in a megacity
  • Metropolitan Police to trial two Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid van models in marked and un-marked roles
  • The vans will be equipped with Ford telematics systems to gather data on operational and environmental performance across industries
  • Mark Harvey appointed director of the urban electrified van programme at Ford to lead the trial from Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in Essex

FORD made a big leap into clean air with the launch of its plug-in hybrid Transit initiative on the first day of the CV Show (April 25).

The Ford Transit Custom PHEV is purely driven by the battery, although there is no range anxiety fear as the van is fitted with a range extender, thought to be Ford’s three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.

Mark Harvey, director of urban electrified van programme at Ford, said the van had a total range of 400km (250 miles) using the range extender and an electric only range which would depend on usage – thought to be around 30 miles.

“The key thing about this van,” said Mark, “is that it maintains its 1.0 tonne payload and is exempt for the London Congestion Charge. But above all it is improving the air quality of London.”

While Ford admits the plug-in hybrid is a specific response to the problems of air quality facing London, as other cities follow the capital’s lead there will be further applications for the innovative van.

The new plug-in hybrid Transit will start trialling in London with major fleets in October 2017, before going into full operation in 2019.

“We’re very keen to get this low emission Transit out to the trades and small businesses and we will do that within a two year timeframe once we have fully understood the operational issues of such a van,” added Harvey.

The five fleets for the initial trials of the 20 ‘Cleaner air for London’ programme include the Metropolitan Police with two Transit Custom PHEV vans: one marked for second response to traffic accidents and one un-marked as a forensic support unit. In addition, Transport for London will use three of the vans for freight duties.

Confirmed fleets to use Transit Custom PHEV:

  •  Transport for London
  • Metropolitan police
  • Clancy Plant
  • Addison Lee
  • British Gas

The multi-million pound ‘Cleaner air for London’ project is being launched with Transport for London and is supported by the UK Government-funded Advanced Propulsion Centre.

The programme was unveiled on the Ford Stand at the CV Show at the Birmingham NEC on April 25, with Mark Harvey, and test & development manager Peter Collins , Metropolitan Police, facilitated by industry commentator Quentin Willson.

 

plug-in hybrid Transit

Mark Harvey, Quentin Willson and Peter Collins at the Transit PHEV launch at the CV Show

 

 

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