Transit Custom PHEV to be trialled in London

Ford and Transport for London are collaborating on a project that's going to assess twenty plug-in hybrid Transit Custom vans. These prototype vehicles will be allocated to various fleets from autumn 2017 for a twelve-month period.

Ford Transit Custom PHEV Prototype (2017) Front Side

Few mechanical details have been released so, for now at least, key criteria such as recharge times and pure-electric range are unknown. That might be because powertrain development is still taking place at Ford's UK technical centre in Dunton, with assistance from Prodrive Advanced Technology and Revolve Technologies. Government cash – in the form of a £4.7M grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre – is financially supporting the scheme.

Ford Transit Custom PHEV Prototype (2017) Schematic

Seeing as air quality campaigners and some politicians are already calling for diesel engine use to be curbed in London (or even banned altogether), this trial is certainly timely. Accordingly, the vans are being fitted with telematics systems to monitor numerous environmental and operational parameters.

A production version of the Transit Custom PHEV is expected to arrive in 2019.

Related post:
Plug-in Van Grant extended to heavier vehicles

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