Can The Ford E-Transit Tow?

Although it's powered purely by electricity, the Ford E-Transit uses almost exactly the same body and chassis parts as the traditional Ford Transit.  Both vans have impressive payload capacities, but is the Ford E-Transit capable of towing?  Here's what our research has uncovered.

For North American markets, Ford does not recommend using the E-Transit for any towing activity. However, in certain European countries, Ford gave the E-transit a tow rating of 2,000 kg. (approx. 4,400 lbs). Nevertheless, some American E-transit owners have already proven that the van can indeed tow some trailers.

Would you like to know more about the towing capacity and other features of the Ford E-Transit?  Do read on, because we've also included a list of trailers that the van can tow.  Furthermore, we've also added some useful information about the E-Transit's driving range, charging time, and charging costs.

How Much Can The E-Transit Tow?

Based on the platform of the Ford Transit - the US commercial van segment sales leader - the all-electric Ford E-Transit is gaining popularity as a more environment-friendly cargo van option.  Launched in late 2022 as a 2023 model, the Ford E-Transit currently comes in cargo van, chassis cab, and cutaway body options.

As of December 2022, Ford has yet to announce an official tow rating for the E-Transit in North America.  Much to the chagrin of current and hopeful E-Transit owners, this situation remains unchanged even after the electrified Ford van has already been available in American Ford showrooms.

However, for certain European markets, Ford rated the E-Transit for a 2,000-kg (4,400 lbs.) maximum trailer weight capacity.  

Ford's decision not to give the E-Transit a global tow rating seems to stem neither from lack of power nor from body and chassis construction.  After all, the Transit and the E-Transit have almost the same maximum payload capacities, ranging from 3,800 to 4,500 pounds on a single-rear-wheel (SRW) format.

For instance, the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 gasoline-powered Transit cargo van can tow a maximum of 3,130 kg (6,900 pounds) with its 310 h.p. and 400 lb.-ft. of Torque.  Even the less-potent 3.5-liter PFDI V6 gasoline engine (275 h.p., 260 lb.-ft. torque) can provide the Transit a maximum towing capacity of 2,900 k.g. (6,400 pounds).

On the other hand, the E-Transit's electric motor provides 266 h.p. and 310 lb.-ft. of torque.  These horsepower and torque outputs can arguably put the electric motor somewhere in between the two gasoline engine options in terms of grunt.  

What Is The Range Of A Ford E-Transit?

 Ford E-Transit showcased at Automobile Barcelona 2021

It's possible that Ford's conservative approach to the E-Transit's towing capacity has something to do with driving range. At present, the E-Transit's 68-kWh lithium-ion battery pack can only give the cargo van a maximum range of 126 miles (202 k.m.).  When fully loaded, the van's range can drop down to 100 miles or less.

Despite the lack of any official tow ratings from Ford, some E-Transit owners have already tried out their vans for towing activities.  Check out this video of an E-Transit towing a lightweight construction trailer, still getting between 1.6 to 1.9 miles per kWh in the process.

At this rate, the 68-kWh battery can theoretically get the trailer setup approximately 120 miles on a full charge.

Can The Ford E-Transit Tow A Trailer?

Ford E-Transit Cargo Van at a dealership. The Ford E-Transit has an electric motor providing 266hp with a maximum payload of 3,880 pounds.

With a braked towing capacity of 4,400 pounds, the  Ford E-transit can pull several types of trailers.  These include lightweight construction trailers, pop-up campers, lightweight travel trailers, and other utility trailers.

For the E-Transit, we should take into consideration some 1,500 to 2,400 lbs. worth of cargo, fuel, and equipment.  Therefore, we selected trailers and campers with dry weights below 2,000 lbs.  Here are some trailers that you can tow with the E-transit.

Carry-On 5X8 3K Radius Enclosed Cargo Trailer

Enclosed cargo trailers work well to transport valuable cargo that you would like to keep secure from thieves or simply from prying eyes.  Carry-On, a leading trailer manufacturer in the U.S., designs several types and sizes of such enclosed trailers.

The Carry-On 5'x8' 3k Radius enclosed cargo trailer has a minimalist rectangular cube design for maximum storage space.  Its rounded roof keeps snow, ice, and dust from accumulating on the roof so the cargo stays dry.

The 5'x8' model comes with either a rear door or a ramp option for your preferred loading and unloading procedure.  Although the plywood wall and floor construction minimize this trailer's dry weight to 890 lbs., you can load up to 2,100 lbs. worth of cargo.

Alto R1723 By Safari Condo

Automotive trailer brand Safari Condo created the Alto R1723 as a lightweight luxury travel trailer.  With the premium price point that it commands, this teardrop camper offers a camping experience that is more luxurious than most of its competitors.  Some of its premium features are as follows:

  • King-size bed (60″ X 76″)
  • A well-designed kitchen
    • microwave oven
    • refrigerator
    • cooking stove
    • wet sink
  • Two-dinette layout for a total of seven dining seats
  • Second dinette convertible to a third bed space
  • Bathroom
    • fixed flush toilet
    • shower area
  • Lithium self-heated batteries

The Alto R1723 comes in at a "feather" weight of 843 kg (1,858 pounds).  

Flagstaff E-Pro E-15TB By Forest River

Forest River designed the Flagstaff E-Pro E-15TB specifically for vehicles with modest towing capacity.   With enough bed space for two adults, a comfortable toilet space, and a well-furnished kitchen, the E-15TB is perfect for couples who love the outdoor life.  

The Flagstaff E-Pro E15TB has a dry weight of only 1,983 lbs.

RV TaB 320 CS-S By NuCamp

The Tab 320 rivals the Flagstaff E-15TB in terms of size and creature comforts.  Inside, the Tab 320 offers a king-size bed in an area that converts into a dinette.  Not to be outclassed by the E-15TB, the Tab 320 also provides a shower, sink, and toilet in a complete wet bath configuration.

For food preparation, Tab 320 can open the rear hatch to access the integrated kitchen.  This area comes with an outdoor sink and a cooking stove so campers can wash and prepare meals without disturbing any trailer occupants that may be busy or resting. 

Despite being well-furnished, the Tab 320 comes in at only 1,791 lbs. in terms of dry weight.

How Long Does The Ford E-Transit Battery Last?

Ford E-Transit electric powered business van presented at the Hannover IAA Transportation Motor Show. Germany - September 20, 2022

Because the Ford E-Transit is new to the market, there are still no real-life testimonies regarding the lifespan of its EV battery.  However, Ford is confident enough to give its EV batteries an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

Of course, an EV battery's actual lifetime can extend well beyond its warranty period.  In fact, some EV experts suggest that the average EV battery today will last for 200,000 miles or more.  However, this estimate can vary depending on frequency of usage, climate conditions, depth of discharge, and driving habits.

How Long Does It Take To Charge The E-Transit?

The charging time for the Ford E-Transit's 68-kWh battery varies depending on the type of charger to be used.  

  • The Ford Mobile Charger, which comes standard with the E-Transit, can charge the battery at 10 miles per charging hour.  This equates to a charging time from 0% to 100% in 11 hours.
  • The Ford Connected Charge Station, a faster Level 2 home charger, can charge the battery 50% faster (15 miles per charging hour) than the Ford Mobile charger.  This means you can fully charge an E-Transit at home overnight, or between 6 to 8 hours.
  • DC Charging at public charging stations can cut the E-Transit's charging time from hours to just minutes.  Ford claims that a typical DC charger can get the E-transit from 15% charge to 80% charge within 34 minutes.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge An E-Transit?

Ford E-Transit Cargo Van display at a dealership. The Ford E-Transit has an electric motor providing 266 horsepower with a maximum payload of 3,880 pounds.

As of November 2022, the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is $0.163 per kWh.  Since we know that the Ford E-Transit has a 68 kWh battery, we can compute the actual cost of the vehicle's full charge in current electricity prices.

To illustrate, 68 kWh x $ 0.163/kWh = $ 10.88 for every full charge.  Using the E-Transit's driving range, we now know that you can travel approximately 100 to 126 miles (160 to 200 kilometers) for less than $11 worth of "fuel".  

The gasoline-powered Transit, in contrast, has a combined fuel economy rating of 16 to 17 miles per gallon for the all-wheel-drive version and rear-wheel-drive version, respectively.  This means that you will need 7.87 gallons of gasoline for the Transit to travel 126 miles.  

At the current U.S. average gasoline retail price of $3.20 per gallon, the Ford Transit will need over $25 worth of fuel to travel the maximum range of its electric counterpart.  This means that the E-Transit's "fuel" cost is only 43% of the Transit for the same driving distance.

How Much Does A Ford E-Transit Cost?

Ford E-Transit Cargo Van display at a dealership. The Ford E-Transit has an electric motor providing 266 horsepower with a maximum payload of 3,880 pounds, Can The Ford E-Transit Tow

The Ford E-Transit currently comes in eight different configurations.  These include three different body lengths as well as three different roof heights.  Moreover, the E-Transit also comes in cutaway and chassis-cab configuration.

Here are the starting prices of the Ford E-Transit, accurate as of December 2022.

  • Cutaway - $ 49,575
  • Chassis Cab - $ 50,105
  • Cargo Van - $ 55,000.

As of this article's writing, the Ford E-Transit only comes in 2-seater commercial van configurations.  However, since the gasoline-powered Ford Transit has both commercial and passenger vans in its lineup, it won't be surprising to see a passenger-format E-Transit in the near future.

Wrapping Up

For the North American market, Ford has yet to release an official tow rating for the E-Transit.  However, the American automaker has rated the electric van for 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs.) of maximum trailer weight capacity in certain European markets.

Thank you very much for reading.  We hope this article was helpful in showing the towing capability of the Ford E-Transit.

For more interesting reads about towing and other automotive topics, you may also check out these great articles below.

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Ford Starting System Fault? Here’s What To Do

Can A Lincoln Navigator Tow A Travel Trailer?

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