Fuso has officially launched the all-electric eCanter in Australia following a six-month trial period.
The 7.5 tonne vehicle is the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) all-electric truck available in Australia and will be supported by select Fuso eMobility dealers.
Developed by Daimler, the eCanter became the world’s first small series electric production truck in 2017.
It has been the subject of a rigorous testing regime around the world covering more than three million kilometres of real-world driving.
Daimler Truck and Bus Australia president and chief executive Daniel Whitehead says the launch of the eCanter in Australia is a big occasion.
“Fuso is launching a truck that emits zero local emissions and operates almost silently.
“This is a significant milestone for Australian transport and represents a big step towards carbon neutral transportation in this country, which benefits everyone,” Whitehead says.
Fuso Truck and Bus Australia director Alex Müller is excited to be able to offer the eCanter to Australian customers.
“The eCanter is perfect for emission-sensitive areas in our big cities, where many pedestrians and residents stand to benefit, but it is not just a concept truck or environmental tribute,” he says.
“It is a serious truck with a payload of more than four tonnes and it gets the job done day and night.”
Müller says the eCanter is proving that all-electric local transportation makes sense not just for the community and for the environment, but also for business.
“We are excited to be pioneers in this field and to prove that electric trucks are practical in the correct application right now,” he says.
“The eCanter is a vital proposition for any company that is serious about reducing emissions,” Müller says.
The eCanter is equipped with active safety features such as the advanced emergency braking and the lane departure warning which are increasingly important for leading companies and government bodies with a focus on health and safety.
“By their very nature, electric trucks operate in high-density urban areas, so active safety systems are more important than ever,” Müller says.
“Our customers do not have to choose between safety and electric mobility, they can have both.”
The eCanter has a range of more than 100km when fully loaded and can be recharged to 80% capacity in an hour using a 50kW rapid charger or fully charged in 90 minutes. This makes it ideal for set loops in big cities with the truck’s zero local emissions and near-silent operation.
Six liquid-cooled lithium ion batteries mounted in the eCanter frame store 82.8kW/h of electricity (with 66kW/h of usable power) and feed a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Power output is rated at 135kW and 390Nm of torque can be delivered the moment the accelerator pedal is pressed.
Fuso will consult with customers and advise them on the optimal charging infrastructure for their specific needs.
Given the global popularity of the eCanter, a limited number will be available for customers in Australia during the initial stages of the introduction, but production availability is expected to increase in time.
While the regular Australian diesel Canters are produced in Fuso’s Kawasaki plant in Japan, Australian eCanters are made at the Tramagal factory in Portugal.
Like all 4×2 Canters the eCanter also features electronic stability control, hill start, a reversing camera and driver and passenger airbags, in addition to advanced emergency braking system and lane departure warning. Fuso includes these key safety features at no extra cost to customers.
The cabin is familiar to drivers of the regular Canter, but features a unique instrument cluster that shows the vehicle range and how much energy is being recouped through regenerative braking when the vehicle slows. It also features an ISRI suspension driver’s seat that is unique to eCanter.
The eCanter will feature on the Daimler stand at the Brisbane Truck Show to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 13 to 16.
eCanter
- 4×2 wide cab
- Permanent synchronous electric motor
- 135kW of power
- 390Nm of torque (from standstill)
- Zero local emissions
- Direct drive automatic transmission
- 3400mm wheelbase
- 2m wide cab type
- Front suspension multi-leaf with stabiliser bar and double acting shock absorbers
- Rear suspension semi-elliptic with stabiliser bar
- Steering Power assisted integral ball and nut
- Brakes Front and rear disc with regenerative braking
- Tyres and wheels 205/75R17.5
- Tare weight 3280kg
- Gross Vehicle Mass 7490kg
- Max people (inc driver) 3
- Top speed 80km/h
- Range around 100km loaded
- Charging time DC (Level 3) 1 to 1.5 hours using CCS Type2 plug type and 50kW charger and AC (Level 2) 8 to 10 hours using IEC62196 7.2kW with three-phase wall connector
- High voltage system 365-Volt using six liquid cooled lithium-ion batteries. Total usable capacity is 66kWh, total capacity is 82.8kW/h
- Low voltage system 12-Volt using two 100AH-760A lead acid batteries
- Active safety features include advanced emergency braking (AEBS), anti-slip regulator (ASR), electronic stability control (ESC), lane departure warning system (LDWS) ABS plus electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
- Passive safety features include dual SRS airbag and ECE-R29 compliant cab
- Five-year warranty or 180,000km, whichever comes first
