Fuso, part of the Daimler Group, has announced that its new Canter E-Cell electric truck will make its Australian debut in 2017.
The enhanced version of the Fuso Canter E-Cell electric truck, which was on display at IAA Commercial Show in Germany, has already undergone a number of real-world trials in Portugal.
Fuso Truck and Bus Director, Justin Whitford, has confirmed the eCanter will be involved in a local trial with key customer fleets this year. “We are excited to be able to conduct a local trial with the groundbreaking all- electric Fuso eCanter in Australia,” Whitford says.
According to Fuso, the new eCanter uses a permanent synchronous electric motor with an impressive output of 185 kW and torque of 380 Nm, with power transferred to the rear axle by a standard single-speed transmission.
“They are water-cooled lithium-ion batteries that feature a long service life, high ef ciency, especially at high ambient temperatures, and also compact design of the battery units. Despite the weight of the battery pack, the Fuso eCanter nevertheless boasts an outstanding weight balance: the chassis load capacity of the 7.5-tonne vehicle is 4.63-tonnes including the body and load.
“Individual battery packs with three to six sets of batteries of 14 kWh each are planned for the upcoming small-scale production run. This allows the eCanter to be adapted to customer requirements with regards to range, price and weight.”
Fuso adds that the eCanter’s locally zero-emission drive will not only reduce the impact of exhaust and noise emissions on city centres, but will also be an economically attractive alternative to diesel engines.