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Ford Transit Custom Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
The Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has been revealed at the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover.
The Ford Transit Custom PHEV features an advanced hybrid powertrain system that targets 30 mile zero-emissions range, or 300+ mile total range using 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine as a range extender.
Ford is the first volume manufacturer to offer PHEV technology in this segment of the van market. The technology enables the vehicle to be charged with mains electricity for zero-emission journeys, contributing to reduced local emissions and allowing the vehicle to enter low emission zones. The PHEV model will enter volume production in the second half of 2019.
The Transit Custom PHEV uses a series-hybrid driveline configuration, the front wheels being driven exclusively by an electric motor, rather than by the combustion engine. Power for the motor is provided by a compact 14 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack located under the load floor, which has been carefully positioned to preserve the full cargo volume offered by the standard Transit Custom van, and a payload exceeding 1,000kg. Ford’s compact and fuel-efficient 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine generates additional charge for the batteries when required.
Three selectable EV modes enable the driver to choose how and when to use the available battery charge:
Using the charge port located within the front bumper, the Transit Custom PHEV can be charged using a domestic 240 volt 10 amp power supply, achieving full charge in five hours, or a commercial 240 volt 16 amp or 32 amp supply, which can bring the pack to full charge in three hours.
Ford Transit Custom PHEV prototypes are undergoing a 12-month fleet trial with real-world customers in London, covering in excess of 30,000 miles to date, and Ford recently announced further trials will begin in Valencia, Spain. The vans – equipped with telematics systems – gather data on operational and environmental performance, including charging patterns, journey patterns and real electric-only range, while in use by commercial fleets including delivery and construction companies, utilities and services such as the police.
The data collected is helping Ford to better understand how to optimise the benefits of the hybrid powertrain and explore how lower-emission plug-in hybrid electric vans could support cleaner air targets, while boosting productivity for operators in urban conditions.
The new Transit Custom PHEV van is a key component of Ford’s global electrification commitment, with an investment of $11 billion to create a portfolio of 40 electrified vehicles globally, including 16 fully electric vehicles through 2022.
