Made by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), part of Daimler Trucks, the Fuso eCanter is the first all-electric light duty truck to go into series production.
Around 500 vehicles will be supplied to customers in the US, Europe and Japan in the first two years, says MFTBC, with large scale production planned from 2019.
Marc Llistosella, president and CEO of MFTBC, said: “In times when everybody is talking about electric trucks, we are the first to actually commercialise 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.”
At the New York event, it was revealed that UPS is the first American operator to trial the vehicle, which has a range of 100km and load capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.
The electric powertrain contains six high voltage lithium ion battery packs with 420V and 13.8kWh each. In comparison with a conventional diesel truck, says MFTBC, this can deliver operational cost savings of up to 1,000 euros per 10,000km.