For over two decades, InPower has been a trusted provider of innovative electrical system solutions for the work vehicle upfit industry. From battery management to power distribution and intelligent control, InPower’s products help fleets and upfitters extend service life, simplify installation, and meet the demands of increasingly complex modern vehicles.
Today, that legacy continues with the SS-FT26, the first user-controlled Stop/Start and high-idle module purpose-built for the push-button ignition system of the 2026 Ford Transit.
A New Architecture, A New Challenge
The 2026 model year marked a significant shift for the Transit platform. Ford moved from traditional ignition keys to a keyless push-button start architecture, fundamentally changing how remote engine control works on the vehicle and rendering existing stop/start and high-idle solutions incompatible overnight.
For upfitters, fleet operators, and anyone running auxiliary systems on a modified Transit, that created a gap. The SS-FT26 is built specifically for this new architecture.
What the SS-FT26 Does
The SS-FT26 connects directly into Ford’s Stationary Elevated Idle Control (SEIC), giving installers a clean, factory-supported connection point with no separate controllers, aftermarket switches, or workaround wiring.
Inside the single compact module:
- User-controlled Stop/Start designed for the parked vehicle
- High-idle functions with two user-adjustable presets to match the load
- PTO control for auxiliary equipment integration
- Decoded park and park brake signals for safe operation
- Eight onboard diagnostic LEDs to simplify installation and troubleshooting
- Full compatibility with the 2026 Transit’s push-button architecture
- Compact, durable construction InPower products are known for
For installers, that adds up to faster builds, simpler diagnostics, and one part number replacing what would otherwise be a stack of separate controllers and switches. For operators, it means real engine control they can use without sitting in the cab.
Built for the Vehicles Doing the Hardest Work
Modified Ford Transits have become increasingly common in utility, telecommunications, tree care, and municipal applications where compact maneuverability is essential. These upfits frequently include electric-over-hydraulic bucket lifts and other auxiliary equipment that draw heavily on the vehicle’s electrical system. When the vehicle operates at base idle, the alternator and battery can become overworked, making high-idle controls necessary for on-demand power while Stop/Start controls help meet anti-idling regulations.
The 2026 change to keyless ignition obsoleted existing Stop/Start solutions. The SS-FT26 addresses both needs with a single integrated solution that meets operators where the work happens and is designed to work with Ford’s keyless ignition system.
“Push-button start is great, but you can’t sit in the cab to hit it when you’re also up in a bucket and need your engine back on,” said Patrick Sullivan, Operations Manager at InPower. “The SS-FT26 puts operators back in control of their own rigs.”
The InPower Approach
Headquartered in Lewis Center, Ohio, InPower designs and manufactures every product at its own facility. When a customer needs a custom solution, our engineers can move fast because they are walking down the hall, not across the country. When a customer calls with a question, they reach a person who knows the products because they helped build them. And when a new platform like the 2026 Ford Transit hits the market with a fundamentally new architecture, we are already working on what comes next.
That is how a single product like the SS-FT26 gets to market in the same model year as the platform that needs it: real engineering, real manufacturing, real customer focus, all under one roof.
Looking Ahead
Work vehicle platforms are evolving fast. OEMs are adding more electrical complexity, more proprietary networks, and more locked-down systems with each model year. The 2026 Transit’s switch to push-button ignition is one example. There will be more.
InPower has spent over twenty years solving exactly that kind of problem. The SS-FT26 is the latest example, but it will not be the last.
Get in Touch
If you are managing a fleet of bucket-lift Transits, upfitting 2026 Ford Transits for utility or municipal work, or looking for a smarter way to handle Stop/Start and high-idle on the new push-button platform, the SS-FT26 is built for you. Contact InPower today to learn more about the SS-FT26 and the full lineup of InPower vehicle electrical solutions.
