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Fuso unleashes eCanter on the Australian market

Full specs released for battery electric light-rigid after six months of testing

 

Fuso has launched the all-electric eCanter in Australia.

The arrival the eCanter, which produces zero local emissions and features class-leading safety, heralds a new age of electric mobility in Australian cities.

Available now, the eCanter is the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) all-electric truck available in Australia and will be supported by select Fuso eMobility dealers.

Developed through the global engineering might of Daimler, the eCanter became the world’s first small series electric production truck in 2017.

Fuso eCanter is the first OEM electric truck to go on sale in Australia

It has been the subject of a rigorous testing regime around the world, including a six-month Australian test run with a maximum load, while global customers have covered more than three million kilometres of real world driving, the company notes.   

Daimler Truck and Bus president and CEO Daniel Whitehead describes the eCanter’s launch  in Australia as a “momentous occasion”.

“Today, Fuso is launching a truck that emits zero local emissions and operates almost silently,” Whitehead says.

“This is a significant milestone for Australian transport and represents a big step towards carbon neutral transportation in this country, which benefits everyone.”

Fuso Truck and Bus Australia director Alex Müller sees the vehicle covering many significant bases for Australian customers.


See the local electric truck assembler taking on the eCanter, SEA Electric


“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,” Müller says.

“It is a serious truck with a payload of more than four tonnes and it gets the job done day and night.”

Müller adds that the eCanter is proving that all-electric local transportation makes sense; not just for the community and for the environment, but for business.

Interior much the same as other Canter models

“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,” 

The eCanter is equipped with active safety features, such as the Advanced Emergency Braking System and the Lane Departure Warning System. 

Müller underlines that the truck is fitted with advanced pedestrian-sensing camera emergency braking technology, just like the regular Canter 4×2 range.

“By their very nature, electric trucks operate in high-density urban areas, so active safety systems are more important than ever,” he says.

“Our customers do not have to choose between safety and electric mobility, they can have both.”

Fuso has said loaded range for the eCanter to be around 100km

The eCanter has a range of more than 100km when fully loaded, and can be recharged to 80 per cent capacity in an hour using a 50kW rapid charger or fully charged in 90 minutes.

This makes it most suitable for set loops in big cities.

Daimler Trucks says the eCanter is part of its commitment to help customers reduce emissions in Australia with its Fuso, Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz brands.

The firm points out that Fuso currently features diesel engines that meet or undercut the stringent Euro 6 emissions standard in medium duty Fighter and heavy duty Shogun as well as the Rosa light bus.

Freightliner’s Cascadia was the first conventional truck in Australia with the US GHG 17 emission rating (exceeding Euro 6), while Mercedes-Benz led the way by introducing Euro 6 on every single Actros model in 2016.

Daimler Trucks aims to have all new vehicles in Europe, North America, and Japan “tank-to-wheel” CO2-neutral by 2039. 

“Our leading customers in Australia want reduced emissions and advanced safety and Daimler Truck and Bus is committed to lead the market in delivering both,” Whitehead says.

Six liquid-cooled lithium ion batteries mounted in the eCanter frame store 82.8kW/h of electricity, with 66kW/h of usable power, that 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 aims to consult with customers and advise them on the optimal charging infrastructure for their specific needs.  

eCanter represents a massive shift in trucking

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, Daimler says.

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 System. 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. 

Specifications

Model 4×2 Wide Cab

Drive system Permanent synchronous electric motor

Power 135kW

Torque 390Nm (from standstill)

Emission level Zero local emissions

Transmission Direct drive automatic

Wheelbase 3400mm

Cab type Wide Cab (2m wide)

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 3,280kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 7,490kg

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 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 Dual SRS Airbag and ECE-R29 Compliant cab

Warranty Five years or 180,000km, whichever comes first.

 

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