Yes exactly like that.

You'll notice the Ford Transit EV still retains the traditional mechanical key, and also features a simple locking glove box that works off the same key.

But why do that when you could make the glove box electronically locking via bluetooth proximity over the infotainment.

People have deluded themselves into believing that EV's must be packed with superfluous electronics and other futuristic garbage, whilst it's just the drivetrain that's different.

Yeah, they're not targeting your use case. The vast majority of these vans, I suspect, are used for urban delivery or trades roles, where 200km is fine. 900km range vans are perfectly possible, but will be very expensive and most van users won't need them.

EDIT: Also, in many countries you can drive a van with a normal driver's license provided it's under, usually, 3.5 tonnes. Once you go over that you need a special license. 900kms worth of battery might make it difficult to fit a reasonable payload under the legal limit.

If you can charge at home/base then, really, you only care about the range being sufficient for one day. I think 200km is enough for many, if not most, use cases.

Most of the Transits I see (in the UK) are not used to drive long distances in a day but to carry stuff around. Think electricians, plumbers, all those trades.

Even an Amazon delivery driver may not drive more than 200km a day. What they do is plenty of stops and I suspect it takes them hours to drive just 20km.

I think plugin hybrids are potentially great for the transition to full EV for people who need to drive long distances.

There are many people who never drive more than 100 miles a day. Why do they need a car with 200, 300 mile range? Not to mention we'll be investing in charging stations along the Interstates, so charge scarcity will be less of a problem.

Fleet vehicles are the perfect first adopters of EVs - they have been using alternative fuel sources for decades in the form of natural gas and LNG. They have short daily range, they go back to a central depot each shift.

It isn't awful range any more than a Mini has awful towing capacity for the person who never tows.

There's going to be a market for both.

The ones with less range can be smaller, lighter, and so less expensive. If all you need is 120 miles, there it is.

Someone will make one with a bigger battery.

> The Ford linked above claims 200km (120 miles) between charges, the Merc 95 miles.

200km is more than enough for a typical parcel delivery day.

Thankfully this article is about trucks :-p

I rented an electric VW Transporter recently (think it's the same van as the Mercedes Sprinter), and it really felt like the future. It was just so nice to operate. Smooth, quiet, tons of torque, and will probably beating day after day with little to no servicing. Range wasn't massive, but for your typical daily urban delivery round that doesn't matter so much. It just made so much sense.