Ford on Monday unveiled a nimble little EV that won’t make it to the US but could serve as a template for success in the US.
The Ford E-Tourneo Courier is a similar (but even smaller) Transit Connect pickup truck that was recently withdrawn from this market, but with an all-electric powertrain. It is expected to go on sale in Europe by the end of 2024.
This is the second generation of Ford’s pickup truck that debuted in 2014 (and is sometimes referred to as the Transit Courier), but the first to be available as an EV. There will still be petrol versions (which will go on sale a bit sooner), but this is the type of vehicle that probably makes the best sense as an EV. The E-Tourneo Courier’s 134-hp electric motor delivers slightly more power than the 1.0-litre turbo-3 petrol engine, with smoother propulsion and better driving characteristics.
Ford E-Tourneo Courier electric van for Europe
Ford press documents call the five-seat E-Tourneo Courier a “multipurpose vehicle,” and it has SUV-like styling to look sturdier than a traditional van. At about 164 inches long, it’s a very small car by US standards, but it can rival the likes of the Kia Soul or the Hyundai Kona — two other vehicles that rely heavily on SUV styling — with sliding rear doors and a usable rear door. trunk.
Ford did not provide specs or an estimate of the battery’s operating range, but noted that there will be 11 kw AC charging and 100 kw DC fast charging, allowing for 10-100% charging in 5.7 hours, and charging 10-80% in less than 35 minutes respectively.
Ford E-Tourneo Courier electric van for Europe
In addition to the E-Tourneo Courier, Ford is selling a New, smaller Explorer in Europe based on Volkswagen ID.4. These smaller, practical-focused models show how automakers need to get a little more creative with electric vehicles for the U.S. market.
Instead, Ford is going big with electric vehicles for the United States—with Lightning F-150 and a Three-row electric SUV on the road. This strategy reflects Ford’s heavy-duty truck approach to its gasoline-powered vehicle line-up and shows no signs of giving up. Also coming soon is Project T3, launching in 2025, which CEO Jim Farley has teased is “tMr. Millennium Falcon of the truck.”
Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has also become more affordable, but in the eyes of some, it’s not as practical as a vehicle like the Fords launched for Europe.
