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Daimler sets Australian Fuso eCanter release date

World-first all-electric light truck in Australian dealerships next February

 

After positive feedback during Australian trials, Daimler will put the Fuso eCanter on the local market in February 2021.

The near-silent eCanter, which produces zero exhaust pipe emissions, was first introduced in 2017 and is currently operating in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Having been “extensively tested in harsh environments”, Fuso presented an eCanter at the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show and select Australian fleets subsequently trialed the vehicle.

Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific president and CEO Daniel Whitehead says Australian customer feedback has been enthusiastic.

“The best light truck fleets in Australia have told us that safety and emissions reduction are absolutely critical for them,” Whitehead says.

“We introduced Advanced Emergency Braking to the light truck class in Australia with Canter last year and now we will be first with a fully integrated manufacturer-developed electric truck.”


Our exclusive video of the eCanter test drive, here


Interestingly, Whitehead points to customers “greatly appreciat[ing]” the fact the eCanter is an integrated OEM product.

“It’s quite simple to take a truck, swap out an engine and replace it with third-party motor and batteries if you want an electric truck in a hurry, but the Australian market is more mature than that,” he says.

He adds thorough testing and development is imperative in the transport industry.

“These trucks are performing essential services around the clock in rain, hail and shine, day in, day out, so it is critical customers have confidence that they continue to perform as promised,” Whitehead says.

The eCanter will emulate other Canter 4×2 models’ safety features, including advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, electronic stability control, hill start assist, reversing camera and driver and passenger airbags.

 

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