With a format based on practicality, the e-Tourneo Courier unites two concepts in a single vehicle capable of reaching long distances without recharging. It will be on sale at the end of 2024. The minivan segment in Europe is no longer what it used to be. Conventional formats such as the Ford S-MAX or the Ford Galaxy are on the verge of extinction. However, family vehicles derived from industrial ones are gaining followers due to their practicality, versatility, and contained price. The Ford e-Tourneo Courier mixes the professional with the family under a 100% electric structure. This is the second electric car derived from the collaboration with the Volkswagen Group, after the presentation of the European Ford Explorer.
Germans and Americans signed a collaboration agreement for the use of technology and systems. The e-Tourneo Courier version derives directly from the Ford e-Transit Courier that was introduced barely a month ago. Although the professional unit stands out for its load capacity, this time it does so because of the multiple options that its cabin presents. Half minivan, half van. All this is seasoned by a robust and forceful design conceived to maximize space and general storage solutions.
Using the same platform as the professional unit, the e-Tourneo Courier mounts a second row of seats divided in a 60:40 ratio, although at practical levels it would have been better to have three individual seats in a symmetrical proportion or at least in a ratio 40:20:40. Despite this, Ford announces a large cargo capacity, with a minimum of 568 liters in the rear trunk. In front, under the hood, there is also a second trunk with 44 liters that is ideal for storing charging cables.
Ever since the launch of the latest generation of the Ford e-Transit, Americans have wanted to exploit interior-focused technology. Behind the scenes, we come across an inappropriate aspect of a commercial vehicle, where the extensive digitization and numerous practical solutions are striking. Dual panel system with up to 12 inches in size and SYNC4 operating system. All this is complemented by the equipment typical of a conventional electric car, including wireless connectivity for mobile phones, parking cameras, climate control, and a good assortment of driving assistants.
At a mechanical level, the range of the Ford e-Transit Courier is supported by a single electric motor installed on the front axle with a power of 101 kW (136 CV). At the moment, the Americans have not wanted to specify the size of the lithium-ion battery that powers the system, but they have commented that it offers a charging power of 100 kW in direct current and up to 11 kW in alternating current. That means that it will be able to recover 87 kilometers of range for every 10 minutes of connection. The official range reaches 350 kilometers in the WLTP approval cycle.
Although Ford has just unveiled its new electric car, its arrival in European markets will be significantly delayed. The Americans say that it will go on sale at the end of next year, so it will be considered a 2025 model. The E-Tourneo Courier is one of the ten 100% electric vehicles that Ford has promised to offer in Europe until 2024. It will not be the best-selling model of this electric strategy, but, at practical levels, few models will be able to exceed the capacity of this industrial minivan.
