Daimler Trucks handed over the all-electric FUSO eCanter to its first customers in the United Kingdom this week. Following market launches in New York, Tokyo and Berlin, the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer is now bringing its electric light truck (7.5 tons) to another important market.

With the all-electric light truck, MFTBC wants to respond to the continuously increasing public demand for emission-free and low-noise inner-city distribution traffic. In London, Daimler handed over the FUSO eCanter to the courier service DPD, the logistics company Wincanton and the bakery manufacturer Hovis. DPD, Wincanton and Hovis will initially launch a total of nine FUSO eCanters in their fleets. The vehicles have a range of around 100 km and are used in urban distribution traffic in and around London. More than 90,000 kilometres in everyday tests already completed ensure that customers in Great Britain, as in other markets, can also drive a reliable and economical vehicle. With the world’s first series-produced all-electric light truck, Daimler Trucks is responding to the continuously growing demand for emission-free and low-noise inner-city distribution traffic.

Well-known customers in Great Britain

DPD is an international courier service that delivers 4.8 million consignments a day to over 200 countries. In Great Britain DPD employs over 6,000 people and moves 2,340 vehicles. DPD will use two FUSO eCanter for an initial period of two years. Wincanton PLC is the UK’s largest logistics service provider and employs around 17,500 people at more than 200 locations. The company plans to use five FUSO eCanter trucks in its fleet. Hovis is a bakery company based in High Wycombe. It employs around 3,200 people in the UK. Hovis starts with two FUSO eCanter trucks.

Customers in the UK benefit from a wealth of experience

The FUSO eCanter was developed by Daimler subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. (MFTBC). Production for the European and US markets takes place in Tramagal (Portugal). FUSO eCanter for customers in Asia comes from the MFTBC plant in Kawasaki. Following its global market launch in New York in September 2017, the first eCanter products went to companies such as UPS in the USA, Yamato and 7-Eleven in Japan and DHL, DB Schenker, Rhenus and Dachser in Germany.

The FUSO eCanter has a gross vehicle weight of 7.49 tonnes and a loading capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes, depending on its design and application. The vehicle’s electric powertrain comprises six high-voltage lithium-ion batteries with 420 V and 13.8 kWh each. It supplies 129 kW (180 HP) to the rear axle via an input gearbox with a permanent magnet motor. A battery charge allows a range of around 100 kilometres. This range usually exceeds the daily distance covered in light distribution traffic.