Ford E-Transit Road Trip Review: Can an Electric Van Really Handle a Long Haul?
I drove a loaded Ford E-Transit across Romania, on the highway and on mountain roads, with cruise control set to 90 km/h (56 mph). Here's the real-world efficiency, the charging speeds I saw and how much time I actually lost at chargers.
Is an electric van only good for city deliveries? That's the question I hear most about vans without a combustion engine, so I wanted to find out for myself. After an event in Timișoara, in western Romania, I had to drive a Ford E-Transit back to Brașov, in the middle of the country, with cargo in the back. I left at 6:34 a.m. with the battery at 100% and 266 km (165 miles) of range on the dash. I used cruise control at 90 km/h (56 mph) on the highway, then took the national road over to Brașov. Every number below is what I read on the dashboard and on the chargers, and you can watch the full test on my Mașina Timpului channel. It was filmed in the summer of 2024.
The van: what Ford says
According to the official "Ford" spec sheet, the E-Transit has a 68 kWh usable battery and a WLTP range of up to 317 km (196 miles). It DC fast charges at up to 115 kW, and 15 to 80% takes about 34 minutes. The onboard AC charger is 11.3 kW, so a full charge on a wallbox takes around 8 hours. The "Ford" UK brochure adds that the electric motor sits at the rear and drives the rear wheels, with 184 PS or 269 PS versions. The battery is under the floor, so you keep the full cargo area. I saw that myself when I looked underneath: the motor is mounted to the chassis at the back and the battery sits low between the wheels.
What the navigation suggested, and what I did instead
The van's navigation planned two stops: 25 minutes near Sebeș, from 18 to 38%, and 55 minutes from 10 to 61%. I went with a different plan. I stopped earlier, where I needed coffee and food anyway, and only charged for as long as I was there.
First stop: coffee and a quick top-up
I pulled into an OMV station in Margina, which has two fast chargers. I arrived with 64%. The chargers work without an app: you pick a charger and pay by card, and the station places a temporary hold of 300 lei (about $65) that's released after the session. You even get an invoice.
At 64%, the van pulled 78 kW. I left it plugged in and went for coffee. After 14 minutes I was at 81%, and power had dropped to 29 kW, which is normal near the top of the battery. I stopped the session and moved on.
267 km on the highway with a single break
From Timișoara to the Sibiu area I covered 267 km (166 miles) on the highway, steady at 90 km/h, with just one 15-minute stop. Along the way a Dutch-registered Lexus passed me twice and a British-registered BMW M5 once. They were driving much faster, but their stops took longer than mine. My takeaway is simple: what matters isn't just how fast you drive, it's how long you stand still.
Second stop: a sandwich and almost half a battery
I made the second charging stop next to a Subway and arrived with 7%. The van started at 88 kW and quickly climbed to 101–104 kW, close to its official maximum. I ate without rushing, and when I came back 23 minutes later I was at 55%, still taking 80 kW. The dash showed 146 km (91 miles) of range, with about 50 km (31 miles) left to Brașov.
By then I had driven 354 km (220 miles) and spent about 40 minutes charging in total. But neither stop was only for charging. The time I actually spent waiting on the van was close to zero, maybe five minutes, which I used to tidy up the cab.
At the destination: efficiency and features
I got to Brașov around 1:10 p.m. after 408 km (254 miles), with 17% left. Average consumption was 25 kWh/100 km (about 2.5 miles per kWh), which I think is very good for a loaded van this size on the highway. The van has keyless start, so the key stays in your pocket, and a touchscreen with wireless Android Auto, so I used Waze and Google Maps straight from my phone. There are two rear doors plus a sliding side door, and the cargo area is huge: I'm 1.80 m (5'11") and can almost stand up in it. Ford says cargo volume reaches up to 15.1 cubic meters, depending on the version.
What it means for drivers
The Ford E-Transit can handle a long trip without stress, as long as you plan your route. Driving steadily at 90 km/h gives you about an hour and a half between charges, and coffee and lunch breaks cover almost all of the charging time. This isn't a van for cruising at 130 km/h (80 mph) on the highway, because the battery drops quickly and you end up stopping very often. For businesses with predictable daily routes, it's ideal: charge overnight and use it all day. And for the occasional cross-country run, what you need most is a calm, organized driver.
