The California Vanpool Authority (CalVans) will be adding 403 new Ford E-Transit® vans, growing CalVans’ fleet by 40 percent. The leap in electrification meets the mobility needs of California commuters in 32 counties, particularly in rural areas.
The fleet includes both 12-person and nine-person passenger vans upfitted for different configurations and route needs, including ADA compliance and room for passenger bags and tools. The ADA passenger units are fully tested and certified by Forest River Bus, BraunAbility, Q’Straint and Freedman Seating Company to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) requirements.
CalVans contracted Model 1 Commercial Vehicles to lead the deal along with Forest River Bus and Ford Pro, the commercial vehicles division of Ford Motor Company.
Before the purchase of the Ford E-Transit units from Model 1, CalVans’ fleet of nearly 1,000 vehicles included many traditional-fuel units that had exceeded the recommended lifecycle or were reaching end-of-life. CalVans struggled to find parts to maintain old gas-fueled models or traditional unit options to meet timing demands. While many vehicle dealers were still recovering from pandemic-related supply chain issues, Model 1 was investing not only in electric vehicle (EV) inventory, but in EV infrastructure, product support and technical training.
Since the release of Ford E-Transit in February 2022, Ford Pro has helped commercial fleets save more than 2 million gallons of gas and more than 16 million kg of CO2 in North America, compared to the E-Transit’s gas-powered equivalent. E-Transit is built at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.
