The Ford Transit has one of the most impressive vehicle sales streaks of all time: It has been the best-selling commercial vehicle for 59 of the 60 years it's been gracing our roads.

In 1965, Ford's press announcement for its first ever Transit van said: 'Every shopkeeper, contractor, ambulance driver, builder, baker or candlestick or holiday maker, can find his own special requirements in Ford Transit'.

Fast-forward and that list now includes wild swimmers who want a special vehicle requirement: an electric Ford Transit Sauna Van. 

The Ford Pro Special Vehicle Team, a group of specialists who build bespoke vehicle conversions for Ford's fleet customers, were given the mission to convert an e-Transit van into an custom-built 'E-sauna' powered by the EV's onboard power unit, to enable the millions of people taking the plunge and going wild swimming reap even more health benefits.

A highly unusual 'special requirement' of a Transit van - and we've had an exclusive opportunity to try this Transit out.... 

So, to celebrate the 60th year of the Transit, and to explore the many and varied possibilities EVs now provide people and businesses, Freda Lewis-Stempel went on a Welsh wild swimming tour with what Ford Pro chief engineer Simon Robinson says is 'probably one of his most unusual builds yet'.

How electric vehicles are powering outdoor lifestyles: Why Ford turned a Transit van into a sauna

The popularity of EVs has been rising – with the proportion of new cars that are electric growing from 11.6 per cent in 2021 to 19.6 per cent in 2024.

As of the end of July 2025 there are over 1.6millon EVs on the roads in the UK.

At the same time wild swimming has been become 'Britain's latest craze'.

There has been a reported 323 per cent increase in wild swimming since 2020, with the numerous physical and mental health benefits – from increased endorphins to reduce inflammation - capturing people's attention during the pandemic.

Swim England currently estimates 7.5million people swim outdoors, while the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) has seen a substantial growth in membership and participation in outdoor swimming events.

Thanks to technology such as vehicle-to-load (where the EV uses its battery to power external appliances) electric cars have become invaluable for wilderness pursuits like this.

And so, lovers of the great outdoors have realised that EVs offer zero-emission driving that fits with, and enables, a nature-first mindset.

As an EV enthusiast and one of the 7.5millon wild swimmers – I've been going in the sea and rivers all year round since I was a small child, before I even knew the term 'wild swimming' - I was fascinated to see how Ford's sauna van helped people adopt an active, healthy lifestyle. Or start an unorthodox business of infrared saunas on electric wheels.

And it seemed everyone was an interested in an electric sauna van on wheels as I was, wild swimmer or not. Genuinely I've never had such curiosity about a vehicle I'm testing.

So, with the weight of public curiosity on my shoulders, I took the Transit Sauna Van to Keeper's Pond near Abergavenny in Wales.

A popular wild swimming 'lake' surrounded by the Brecon Beacons it was the perfect place to test not only the scenic sauna experience but also the e-Transit's range - due to Keeper's Pond being a 300-mile round trip from London.

The sauna 'crib tour' - what the infrared sauna in a Transit van experience is like

The design plays a huge part in the enjoyment - and it turns out that when it comes to sauna building the Ford Pro team knows its stuff. Not something I ever thought I'd write.

The sauna van is thoughtfully constructed, executed and perfectly designed.

Before you even open the sauna doors, the outside of the van gives you that rustic charm with its 'wood effect' wrap, blending into nature whilst being as contradictory conspicuous as possible to the passerby. Fabulous.

Slide the cabin doors open and you're confronted with a beautifully constructed 'anti-chamber' with special Canadian pine wood (it doesn't warp or leak sap) sides, floor and benches. Stunning.

It's kitted out with fluffy Ford Pro branded white toweling dressing gowns, Ford Pro branded white towels in their wooden wall holder, and a speaker system emitting dulcet spa tones. Divine.

Step through the glass doors between the anti-chamber and the sauna itself and you're presented with a light and airy infrared sauna for multiple people – two can lie down and up to six (maybe more at a squeeze) can sit soft.

Not forgetting the wild swimmer loves a good view, the Ford team have installed a glass panel at the rear of the sauna, so if you keep the rear doors open too you can also see out the back across the landscape of your choosing. 

Be prepared for a lot of gawking if there's people around – understandable considering you're sitting in a sauna in a van.

I also left the cargo doors open to the beautiful views of the Welsh Mountains on a sunny August Sunday and would recommend doing this if you're sauna van-ing (not when you're getting changed though obviously).

I set the sauna to heat up to 45 degrees for 40 minutes, went off for a glorious cold swim, got a tea from the horse trailer tuned barista cart (appropriately named Coffi Baa as we were surrounded by sheep) and came back to R&R and read my book in the sauna. 

By this point it had heated up, so I sat looking out to the serene views of the Welsh Mountains on a sunny August Sunday, drinking my tea, letting the cold water and infrared sauna benefits work their magic, completely blissed out.

A wild swim followed by an infrared sauna makes you feel about as healthy and zingy as it's possible to get, and the novelty of being in a van only heightened everything.

It's hard to describe accurately the sensation of sitting in a van made from wood that heats up to 50 degrees if I'm honest; relaxing and somewhat perplexing in equal measure is probably the closest I can succinctly get. 

Certainly it's hard to imagine a sauna with a better view – or at least access to the best views around the nation. The freedom the van gives you to drive around to find the best, most secluded spots adds a huge amount of fun to the experience.

I was highly aware while sauna-ing just how far EVs have come that they can be converted into concepts like this, providing people with not only enjoyable adventures but also a potential businesses.

I wasn't the only person thinking it could be a good business idea.

A local came up to me and said: 'There's a guy with a sauna on a trailer who comes and parks and does really good business.' He encouraged me to get 'a big sign' and give him 'a run for his money'.

While I might be otherwise busy, he makes a very valid point. After all being mobile works for Mr Whippy, doesn't it?

How the sauna e-Transit is powered and how your EV could do the same: EVs as 'power banks' and a sauna how-to guide

The all-electric Ford E-Transit sauna is powered by the E-transit's built-in power supply, called Pro Power Onboard.

For people who aren't clued into EVs, electric cars can be helpfully used as a portable power bank as well as helping the planet with zero tailpipe emissions.

Called vehicle to load or bi-directional charging, this power bank feature allows you to use your EV to power everything from your portable kettle on a hiking trip, to your whole home in a blackout.

It's a feature that is often underrated, but the adventurer, explorer, wild camping and wild swimming communities are starting to utilise and appreciate it.

So how does it work with the sauna van?

It's ridiculously easy.

If the van is on and parked (you can't sauna while driving), all you have to do is plug the three-pin plug in to the power socket inside the rear doors, press the green 'on' button, wait for the click and then set the time and temperature on the control pad by the sauna's interior glass door, inside the main cargo area.

That's it – it's foolproof.

How the e-Transit range holds up: Does the sauna steam away range? How practical is the van?

The sauna hardly touches the range.

The Ford Pro team tests found that for every hour the sauna is in use it only loses around four miles of range. Unlike WLTP range estimates, this is pretty much bang on. I did 40 minutes and then around another 20 minutes and lost around five miles of range (with a bit of moving the van around in between).

However, the actual e-Transit's driving range isn't great though.

The sauna van should do around 196 miles on a single charge same as a typical e-Transit's claimed range, but I was getting just under 150 miles max.

Also be aware that towards the end of a charge it was managing 20kW speeds max, sometimes only 12.5kW. I had to stop for a full charge on the way to Wales and on the return trip, and it did add significant time on.

So wild swimmers should be prepared to take it in the slow lane (more than 60mph and range evaporates, no pun intended) and plan at least one well-timed full charge during long road trips.

Ford says the Sauna Van can go just about anywhere, demonstrating the versatility of EVs for fleet and private customers.

I think Ford is referring to the range and mobility when they say, 'goes anywhere', but I can attest to its 'off-roading' versatility too.

I was impressed by the e-Transit ability to go off-piste. I had to drive it up over heathland (at one point with one wheel off the ground) to get to the most picturesque point – anything for the shot – and it trundled up all surfaces with the gung-ho attitude you'd expect of Britain's commercial wagon of choice.

And it shouldn't be overlooked how the Transit is of course a very practical vehicle with three seats up front and a lot of space in the back even with the sauna in there. Plus, the high up driving position and general dominance on the road makes for a 'king of the road' feeling when you're behind the wheel.

60th anniversary of the Transit - a sexagenarian goes electric

I think the idea of turning a Transit into a sauna is bonkers but brilliant, and a fitting way to celebrate 60 years of the Transit and its versatility that's helped shaped Britain. Ford calls the Transit the 'backbone of Britain', and I can now attest to that.

Ford says that the 'Transit has been built on continuous innovation, taking real-world customer insights and translating them into features that simplify every-day tasks.' I doubt anyone envisioned a future where helping customers simplify their lives would mean turning an electric Transit into a sauna, but one can never predict the future.

Electric vans are gracing the roads more frequently now, and after its launch the newly introduced E-Transit quickly became the UK's best-selling electric van in the two-tonne segment, with over 1,750 orders in 2022.

Having noticed far more Transits I'd ever be able to count while driving around in the E-Transit, and a number of e-Transits (other than just Amazon vans) I can see why the Transit is the number one best selling van in the world, with over 13 million produced since its 1965 debut, and a new Transit van purchased every two minutes in Europe.

So - can you buy a sauna transit van?

Sort of. There's no e-Transit sauna option on the Ford configuration, and it's not at your showroom down the road either.

However, Ford has told us that readers who fancy a bit of R&R in the back of a 5931mm by 2780mm van should get in touch because the Ford Pro Special Vehicle team can make one on demand.

For wild swimming clubs or health clubs it's a great idea. Any wild swimming club wanting to increase membership, you'll have a line of dry-rob hardy people lining up to join if you get a sauna van. 

And as there are multiple beaches that have saunas that arrive on the back of trailers for days, weeks and even months it seems permits aren't hard to come by (if even needed). 

For any other adventurers, explorers or entrepreneurs, the e-Transit's Pro Power Onboard feature has now opened up the Transit van's possibilities to a whole new roster of people - and some very wild ideas…