Ford New Zealand today announced an electrification strategy that will give Kiwi customers the choice of up to seven new Ford electrified vehicles by the end of 2024.
By the end of 2022, Ford will only offer electrified powertrains (PHEVs, MHEVs and Hybrids), across the majority of its passenger and SUV range. Only Ford Performance vehicles and the Ford Everest will continue in 2022 with standard powertrains within the Ford SUV and passenger range.
Also in 2022, Ford New Zealand’s first full battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the new Ford E-Transit, will increase the Blue Oval’s domestic EV range when it debuts mid-year.
Ford NZ plans to introduce up to seven new electrified vehicles by the end of 2024, with the Escape Hybrid and Puma Mild Hybrid are already confirmed.
With the exception of Ford Performance Vehicles and the Ford Everest, Ford New Zealand will only offer electrified powertrains, PHEVs, MHEVs and Hybrids, across its SUVs and passenger vehicles by 2022
The New E-Transit joins Transit Custom and Transit Tourneo PHEVs from mid-2022, featuring a 68 kWh battery, a driving range of up to 300+ kms1 and fast-charging capability from 15 percent to 80 percent in around 34 minutes2
New Zealand’s electrification strategy contributes to Ford’s global ambition of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Ford New Zealand’s electrification roadmap will include many of the company’s already popular nameplates while also introducing new models that will diversify and broaden its local vehicle range.
“We are accelerating our electrified future in New Zealand,” said Simon Rutherford, Managing Director, Ford New Zealand. “We are anticipating the needs of each type of customer and bringing the best of our global lineup to meet those requirements. For business customers, E-Transit delivers the durability and capability they need to serve their customers, along with zero-emission efficiency.”
Ford says its E-Transit is a no-compromise business partner that brings all the versatility of the global best-selling Transit and introduces the significant advantage of zero tailpipe emissions while being more than capable of taking on the toughest of tasks.
The E-Transit will join the already-on-sale Transit Custom PHEV and Transit Tourneo PHEV.
Striving for sustainability
Ford New Zealand’s EV roadmap forms part of Ford’s global investment of US$30 billion (approx. NZD$43 billion) in electrification by 2025. To ensure a smooth electrification rollout, Ford New Zealand has partnered with Singer Electric New Zealand, a leading supplier of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for both homes and businesses.
With Singer Electric, Ford has rolled out charging stations for Ford NZ’s main dealer sites. Ford will continue the rollout with charging facilities going into dealer branches beginning in quarter 1, 2022. Installations include customer forecourt charging stations and charging capabilities in service areas.
E-Transit Update
The full-size E-Transit will begin to arrive with New Zealand customers in rear-wheel drive 420L long wheel-base configuration from mid-2022.
“The Transit has been the first choice around the globe for getting the job done, and we’re again moving the game on with this fully electric version,” said David Herbert, Light Commercial Marketing Manager, Ford New Zealand.
“Our business customers tell us how important it is for them to have their van ready whenever it’s needed. E-Transit has more than enough range for a full day’s work, can fully charge overnight so it’s ready for the next morning and there’s no sacrifice in its load-carrying capacity or convenience.”
With a usable battery capacity of 68 kWh, E-Transit offers an estimated driving range of up to 300+kms on the combined WLTP cycle, 1 providing enough range to meet daily requirements and making it ideal for urban environments and fixed drive routes, but with sufficient additional capacity to account for variations in vehicle load and weather conditions.
The vehicle’s electric motor has a peak output of 198kW and 430 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful Transit currently available. Its rear-wheel drive layout also ensures outstanding traction when the vehicle is heavily laden.
E-Transit’s drive modes are tailored to its electric powertrain. A special Eco Mode can provide between 8 and 10 percent improvement in energy usage if E-Transit is driven unladen, or at highway speeds. Eco Mode limits top speed, regulates acceleration, and optimises climate control to help maximise the available driving range.
The vehicle also supports Scheduled Pre-Conditioning, enabling the climate control system to be programmed to adjust the cabin to the preferred temperature while the vehicle is still on charge, ensuring that the maximum driving range is available.
E-Transit features both AC charging and DC fast-charging. The vehicle’s 11.3 kW on-board charger is capable of delivering a 100 percent charge in up to 8.2 hours.2 Charging with up to 115 kW using a high-power DC fast-charger, E-Transit can top-up the battery from 15 percent to 80 percent in around 34 minutes.2
Ford says their engineers designed E-Transit’s driveline and rear suspension system to optimise cargo space, locating the battery underneath the body and creating a heavy-duty semi-trailing arm suspension system that enables better steering precision and more confident handling, plus better traction in both laden and unladen conditions. This also allows for an uncompromised cargo capacity of up to 11.3 cubic metres in mid-roof specification and 12.4 cubic metres for the high roof version, both of which are identical to the Transit 350L RWD diesel equivalents. Gross vehicle mass of up to 4.2 tonnes is offered, with a targeted payload of 1,616 kg.
Ford goes to pains to say that there has been no sacrifice in payload area, and part of this is down to the all-new independent rear suspension, with a rear electric motor mounted in the subframe. There’s also a central battery pack, and Drive Modes include Normal, Eco and Slippery. It comes with lift-off brake regeneration, which is always active but can be increased by selecting ‘L’ on the transmission selector.
The E-Transit will come with an eight-year, 160,000 km warranty package for the battery and high-voltage electric components.
Full model specification and pricing details for the E-Transit will be announced closer to its New Zealand market launch.
And since everyone will be asking, will New Zealand see the Ford Mustang Mach-E, EV?
Simon Rutherford, GM for Ford New Zealand, says it’s not coming just yet. “We believe it would be extremely successful all we can say is that it is a when, not if.” So that’s hopeful.
F150 Lightning for New Zealand?
What about the F150 Lightning, their EV pickup truck? Is it coming here? “Half our staff are asking for one as well as everyone on social media,” says Simon. “But there are challenges with left-hand drive and the scale is all on left-hand drive for the moment. There are no plans right now for the F150 Lightning to come here. We’d need more RHD markets to help push this along.”
1 Officially homologated energy efficiency figures including driving range will be published closer to on-sale date for NZ. The figure quoted above is the targeted range and charge time based on manufacturer tested values and calculation according to the present European requirements that use the WLTP drive cycle. The declared 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. Actual range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviours, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and state of health.
2 The charging rate decreases as battery reaches full capacity. Your results may vary based on peak charging times and battery state of charge.
