E-Transit

[Oswald Construction]

Hi all,

All the E-transit forums are dead with no activity, and I've been reading this forum for some Ford E news and figured this would be the best place to post my thoughts.

Hearing that Ford has canceled the Lighting and the E-Transit(Maybe??) was pretty disappointing. As it seems quite obvious both the Lighting and E-Transit are great vehicles.
I'd like to focus on the E-Transit which no one seems to know exists. I bought my used 2022 E-Transit EXT High Roof cargo van in July of 2024 for $24k and $30,000 miles. The roof had some decent dents, and the interior of the cargo area was pretty beat up, but It was worth it to me for the low mileage and price, plus I was going to build out the interior for tool racking, and the exterior looks pretty good from 20 ft away.
I'm a custom carpentry contractor and have used trucks for work my entire career, the longer my career goes, the more I hated working out of a truck, so several years ago I started looking for a cargo van. I like the Sprinter, the Transit is nice too, but the van-lifers had inflated the used and new market of vans so much that they were the same price or more for a heavy duty diesel truck. Pretty ridiculous since a van is really just a metal box...
I've owned an EV of some sort(Tesla, Rivian) for the past 5 yrs so when the E-Transit came out I knew thats what I wanted for to reasons:
-Home charging, being able to leave for work every day with full charge
-Operating cost. My previous diesel truck cost $.45 a mile to operate, and I knew an E-Transit would and does cost me $.05 a mile to operate

Having used my E-Transit for a year and a half now I'm convinced every trades person or service company should have one or more. Even at the full MSRP of $50K+, the operation cost is so much cheaper. Not to mention that for the last 6 months you can find a new one for $30k or less, and used ones for less than $25k(i've seen some for $12k in better condition than mine is.)
Whats so ridiculous and frustrating is every jobsite I go to guys onsite are surprised to see such an organized van, then I tell them its electric, and they've never heard of an electric van. I've yet to meet someone that knows E-Transits exist. Then I tell them how cheap they are, and they all say that sounds amazing.
How come no one has heard of these vans? I've never seen any marketing from Ford regarding these, and not much more for the Lightning.
There is such a false perception with EVs, its too politicized, and people are so misinformed.
Its been the same with our Tesla early on, people are surprised how cheap and easy it is to charge, how fast they are, and how fun.
Range anxiety is a big fear for people, especially with the E-Transit, mine has a range of 120 miles, yet I've never run out, and I can charge at most jobsites all day long..
It took Tesla 17 years to become profitable, now they are one of the most valuable companies, and arguably the best value EV you can buy. Ford gives up on EVs in 4 years without barely trying??

Sponsored

 

[Rice_classic]

I know multiple people that use transit vans for their businesses and ALL of them would swap them to E-transit tomorrow if they could. With this news there’s a gap that can be easily filled and these D2C EV companies like Tesla, Rivian, Scout should step in and fill this gap. The gap in the EV van space is real, especially commercial vans that do a lot of city driving.

…and no, the ID.Buzz doesn’t fill that gap.

 

[Oswald Construction]

@Rice_classic Im curious, you say they would swap to E-Transit if they could, why cant they?

Yes, the gap in EV van space is huge. Any and every company should be operating them. Every delivery company should be 80% electric. The E-Sprinter looks great with good specs, hopefully it survives.. The Rivian delivery van is great, but only just now has become available to the public, but it is strictly commercial, only one seat and a jump seat. I drive my daughter to school so need a regular seat to mount carseat.
The Brightdrop van seemed great in that its the only AWD commercial van available, good range too at over 200 miles. But they canceled that too.

 

[K6CCC]

How come no one has heard of these vans? I've never seen any marketing from Ford regarding these, and not much more for the Lightning.

Yep, the almost total lack of marketing and dealers who have no interest in selling any electric vehicle.

 

[Rice_classic]

@Rice_classic Im curious, you say they would swap to E-Transit if they could, why cant they?

Yes, the gap in EV van space is huge. Any and every company should be operating them. Every delivery company should be 80% electric. The E-Sprinter looks great with good specs, hopefully it survives.. The Rivian delivery van is great, but only just now has become available to the public, but it is strictly commercial, only one seat and a jump seat. I drive my daughter to school so need a regular seat to mount carseat.
The Brightdrop van seemed great in that its the only AWD commercial van available, good range too at over 200 miles. But they canceled that too.

The have these which are now discontinued: https://www.ford.com/trucks/transit-connect-passenger-van-wagon/2023/

The Transit Connect is the perfect vehicle for them but it is discontinued and EV if that would have been ideal. The current transit hits them in 3 places:
Range (need more than 159)
Size
Price

The irony is they immediately see the value in an EV for a business vehicle but less so in their commuters. The struggle is real and the FUD is strong.

I feel like Korean makes have an opportunity here or the EV brands like rivian/tesla/scout.

 

[queuewho]

I see E Transits around my area pretty often, I look for the blue in the grill when I see any ford vans. Also, Walmart is using them for direct store to home deliveries. I wonder if that contract would keep them being made? Also wonder if they get EREV with it as well.

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

There are a few around here running parts for napa.

What I wish was here was the EU Ford transit/van options.

The competition bright drop has been canceled too... dealers are getting loaded up and they are choking on them. Just a matter of time before that price hits the 40k zone locally. The BD website has them for high 40's now.
https://www.chevrolet.com/commercial/brightdrop

Here's an example of a place locally to me that has been sitting on these for months now.

https://www.depaulachevrolet.com/new-vehicles/brightdrop/

 

[Oswald Construction]

The have these which are now discontinued: https://www.ford.com/trucks/transit-connect-passenger-van-wagon/2023/

The Transit Connect is the perfect vehicle for them but it is discontinued and EV if that would have been ideal. The current transit hits them in 3 places:
Range (need more than 159)
Size
Price

The irony is they immediately see the value in an EV for a business vehicle but less so in their commuters. The struggle is real and the FUD is strong.

I feel like Korean makes have an opportunity here or the EV brands like rivian/tesla/scout.

Too bad we cant buy this is North America: https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit-custom#intro

I'd push back on the range limits of 159, unless they are in a very rural area, this is plenty of range.
I'll push back on price now too, because you can find plenty of great condition used ones like this: https://www.cargurus.com/details/43...vhpkgAPIAK140Vm3EJAHcAJoAdVUTiQnCu1mZhIw2y2QA

The small transit is not much bigger than the transit connect.

 

[Rice_classic]

Too bad we cant buy this is North America: https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit-custom#intro

I'd push back on the range limits of 159, unless they are in a very rural area, this is plenty of range.
I'll push back on price now too, because you can find plenty of great condition used ones like this: https://www.cargurus.com/details/43...vhpkgAPIAK140Vm3EJAHcAJoAdVUTiQnCu1mZhIw2y2QA

The small transit is not much bigger than the transit connect.

I pushed back on range too but many days are at that range, or close and an 80% charge is obviously less. Having to find and sit at a charger between stops is a no go.. even with a capitulation on range the other two factors remain.

 

[Pod]

I’m convinced Ford is just making a HUGE mistake. Quit the Lightning….seems foolish but the E-Transit are everywhere. Those customers are going to Tesla or Rivian and never coming back. Dumb dumb dumb.

 

[Landscaper]

I know multiple people that use transit vans for their businesses and ALL of them would swap them to E-transit tomorrow if they could. With this news there’s a gap that can be easily filled and these D2C EV companies like Tesla, Rivian, Scout should step in and fill this gap. The gap in the EV van space is real, especially commercial vans that do a lot of city driving.

…and no, the ID.Buzz doesn’t fill that gap.

Nothing stopping them from switching...if they were serious they would have switched. Or could now

 

[Oafy44]

Hi all,

All the E-transit forums are dead with no activity, and I've been reading this forum for some Ford E news and figured this would be the best place to post my thoughts.

Hearing that Ford has canceled the Lighting and the E-Transit(Maybe??) was pretty disappointing. As it seems quite obvious both the Lighting and E-Transit are great vehicles.
I'd like to focus on the E-Transit which no one seems to know exists. I bought my used 2022 E-Transit EXT High Roof cargo van in July of 2024 for $24k and $30,000 miles. The roof had some decent dents, and the interior of the cargo area was pretty beat up, but It was worth it to me for the low mileage and price, plus I was going to build out the interior for tool racking, and the exterior looks pretty good from 20 ft away.
I'm a custom carpentry contractor and have used trucks for work my entire career, the longer my career goes, the more I hated working out of a truck, so several years ago I started looking for a cargo van. I like the Sprinter, the Transit is nice too, but the van-lifers had inflated the used and new market of vans so much that they were the same price or more for a heavy duty diesel truck. Pretty ridiculous since a van is really just a metal box...
I've owned an EV of some sort(Tesla, Rivian) for the past 5 yrs so when the E-Transit came out I knew thats what I wanted for to reasons:
-Home charging, being able to leave for work every day with full charge
-Operating cost. My previous diesel truck cost $.45 a mile to operate, and I knew an E-Transit would and does cost me $.05 a mile to operate

Having used my E-Transit for a year and a half now I'm convinced every trades person or service company should have one or more. Even at the full MSRP of $50K+, the operation cost is so much cheaper. Not to mention that for the last 6 months you can find a new one for $30k or less, and used ones for less than $25k(i've seen some for $12k in better condition than mine is.)
Whats so ridiculous and frustrating is every jobsite I go to guys onsite are surprised to see such an organized van, then I tell them its electric, and they've never heard of an electric van. I've yet to meet someone that knows E-Transits exist. Then I tell them how cheap they are, and they all say that sounds amazing.
How come no one has heard of these vans? I've never seen any marketing from Ford regarding these, and not much more for the Lightning.
There is such a false perception with EVs, its too politicized, and people are so misinformed.
Its been the same with our Tesla early on, people are surprised how cheap and easy it is to charge, how fast they are, and how fun.
Range anxiety is a big fear for people, especially with the E-Transit, mine has a range of 120 miles, yet I've never run out, and I can charge at most jobsites all day long..
It took Tesla 17 years to become profitable, now they are one of the most valuable companies, and arguably the best value EV you can buy. Ford gives up on EVs in 4 years without barely trying??

E transit vans can’t be used for companies with for then a few - they want to (talked to a few large companies ) - trust me the savings are real on paper once you build the ecosystem but here are a few things to consider

To be able to install multiple charge stations for a company (remember they have to be charged every day and ready go for morning ) these companies were getting absurd quotes to electrify their shops. Local power co ops / permitting / engineering - all was adding up to million dollar quotes. Whole Foods tried for a little bit and the refrigeration part were sucking up too much energy In the vans

A 1/2 vehicle set up for a company makes total sense and the savings / especially the past few years is real savings. But outside of a few it just wasn’t cost effective or efficient for mass scale.

Sponsored