FUSO e-Canter: Demand for sustainable urban logistics will force many companies to switch to greener trucks
“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 drive-trains, 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.”
– Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia.
USO e-Canter, the world’s first all-electric light-duty truck was launched in New York in September with 500 units up for deliveries over the next two years, signaling the start of the trucking industry’s switch for greener vehicles with less carbon emission and operating costs than fuel-powered trucks.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC)—part of Daimler Trucks—the global market leader with truck brands like Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz and FUSO–says the electric trucks are up for deliveries this year in the US, Europe and Japan with larger scale production intended to start in 2019.
“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 drive-trains, 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,” said Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia.
“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,” Llistosella added.
UPS and NYC NGOs first to order
United Parcel Service (UPS) and four prominent NGOs in New York are FUSO’s first customers for its newly-launched electric trucks.
UPS said it will use the zero-emission trucks with an eye to moving its fleet toward being more sustainable in doing urban logistics.
“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,” said Carlton Rose, President, Global Fleet Maintenance & Engineering, UPS.
In coordination with the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, FUSO also will supply a fleet of local zero‑e mission FUSO eCanter trucks to well-known New York based not-for-profits, including: Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Botanical Garden, Habitat for Humanity New York City, and Big Reuse Brooklyn.
FUSO says the all-electric light-duty truck is MFTBC’s answer to the public’s need for a zero-emission, zero-noise truck for continuously increasing inner-city distribution.
In addition to being an eco-friendly vehicle, it is cost-efficient and economical for users, as already proved within customer tests in Europe. The FUSO eCanter has a range of 100 kilometers and a load capacity up to three and a half tons – 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 Euro per 10,000 kilometers on operating costs.
Intensive research and testing
FUSO says its new electric trucks are a revolution several years in the making: At the 2010 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, FUSO presented a first prototype of an electrically powered Canter E-Cell, leading into a pre-series production for testing purposes in 2014.
The FUSO eCanter benefits from extensive experience of customer trials conducted in Portugal and Germany with the pre-series vehicles between 2014 and 2017.
In May of 2017, MFTBC announced its first commercial customer for the new in-line series production vehicle in the Japanese market. Seven-Eleven Co., Ltd. will be operating 25 units of the eCanter in their fleet.
After unveiling the first charging station in Japan and kicking off production at the OEM’s factory in Portugal, today’s global launch event underlines the commitment of both FUSO and New York State to developing & embracing sustainable and reliable transportation solutions to benefit society and the planet.
After years of research and intensive customer testing, the FUSO eCanter will be fully integrated in the production line for the conventional combustion Fuso Canter truck.
This past July, MFTBC celebrated the start of production of eCanter in Tramagal, Portugal. The production plant will assemble all eCanter vehicles for the European and U.S. markets. The Portuguese government has been continuously supporting the development of the eCanter since the early stages in 2010 until today, and for the future to come.
