The Warwick-based same- and next-day parcel deliveries and palletised distribution operator says it has also achieved “significant” productivity gains, thanks to the Canter 7C15’s high payload capacity.
And director Craig Hutchings says his company has also won praise from some of its most important customers for its emission-busting stance.
The Canter Eco Hybrid is powered by a 150bhp diesel engine working in parallel with a 40 kW (54bhp) electric motor, and has Canter’s Duonic dual-clutch automated transmission.
From stationary it uses electric power only, then switches to a combination of diesel and electric once reaching 6mph.
Depending on the power demand, the electric motor also supports the diesel at higher speeds, while an idle start-stop system also reduces fuel consumption.
Hutchings concedes that there is some payload penalty, but adds that, because of the low weight electric motor and lithium-ion batteries (covered by a 10-year, unlimited mileage warranty), it’s just 160kg more than the diesel-powered Canter.
The result is a 5.0 tonne body and payload allowance – in this case optimised by a curtainside body from JC Payne, of Walsall, fitted with a roller shutter rear door and a 1,000 kg DEL column tail-lift.
“The Canter can carry cargo up to 3.3 tonnes,” states Hutchings. “That’s a major improvement on our traditional 7.5-tonners, which offer a payload of around 2.5 tonnes.”
And he adds: “If the driver stays in auto we can get anything up to 24 mpg, while in manual the returns drop to around 18 or 19 mpg. By contrast, our other vehicles of the same size are doing about 12 mpg.”
New Horizon Logistics’ vehicle is the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and is being maintained at Midlands Truck & Van’s Coventry workshop.