FUSO unveils fully-electric eCanter truck in New York

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has launched the FUSO eCanter fully-electric light duty truck, the first of which is to be deployed by delivery firm UPS later this year.

The company, which is a part of Daimler Trucks, plans to deliver 500 units of the new vehicle within the next two years, with larger scale production to begin in 2019.

The FUSO eCanter at its global launch in New York City

According to FUSO, the eCanter has a range of 100km and a load capacity up to 3.5 tonnes — depending on body and usage.

The vehicle´s electric powertrain contains six high voltage lithium ion battery packs with 420 V and 13.8 kWh each. In comparison with a conventional diesel truck, it offers savings up to €1,000 per 10,000km on operating costs, according to FUSO.

Marc Llistosella, President and chief executive of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and head of Daimler Trucks Asia: “In times, when everybody is talking about electric trucks, we are the first to actually commercialize a series produced all-electric truck. Having a long history in alternative drivetrains, we are proud to step into this new era. Our FUSO eCanter comes with years of customer testing, and the assurance of parts, services, and warranty through our global FUSO dealership network.

“Our new FUSO eCanter now addresses the increasing global demand for products to meet and exceed high CO2 emission standards. It offers an attractive and cost-effective alternative to combustion engines and makes electric trucks key to the future of inner city distribution.”

UPS

At the global launch in New York yesterday (14 September), FUSO announced that the company’s first US commercial partner for the eCanter will be packaging delivery firm UPS. UPS already operates a fleet of electric delivery trucks from its depot in North London (see airqualitynews.com story).

FUSO eCanter trucks will also be supplied to not-for-profit organisations including the Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Botanical Garden, Habitat for Humanity New York City, and Big Reuse Brooklyn.

Carlton Rose, UPS’ president of global fleet maintenance & engineering, said: “At UPS, we constantly evaluate and deploy advanced technologies that enable sustainable, innovative solutions for our fleet. Electric trucks make our fleet both cleaner and quieter, adding to our already more than 8,500 alternative drivetrain vehicles in service today. We have a long-standing global relationship with Daimler, and we welcome the opportunity to trial the Fuso eCanter as UPS continues to realize the benefits of electric trucks.”