The Mitsubishi FUSO Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), part of Daimler Trucks, recently launched the first series of all-electric, light-duty trucks called the FUSO eCanter, with UPS as the first commercial partner in the United States.
The zero-emission truck is scheduled to begin making deliveries later this year in the United States, Europe, and Japan. While full-scale production isn’t scheduled to begin until 2019, the company said it plans to deliver 500 eCanter units to customers within the next two years.
“In times, when everybody is talking about electric trucks, we are the first to actually commercialize a series produced all-electric truck,” Marc Llistosella, president and CEO of MFTBC, said. “Having a long history in alternative drivetrains, we are proud to step into this new era. Our FUSO eCanter comes with years of customer testing, and the assurance of parts, services, and warranty through our global FUSO dealership network.”
According to company testing in Europe, the truck has a range of 62.13 miles and a load capacity of up to three and a half tonnes, depending on the body and usage. Powered by six high-voltage lithium-ion battery packs of 420 volts and 13.8 kilowatts, the company said the truck offers cost savings of up to €1,000 Euro ($1195.80) per 10,000 kilometers (6,213.72 miles) in operating costs.
As the first U.S.-based partner for the eCanter, UPS said it will use the zero-emission trucks with an eye to moving its fleet toward being more sustainable.
“Electric trucks make our fleet both cleaner and quieter, adding to our already more than 8,500 alternative drivetrain vehicles in service today,” Carlton Rose, president of UPS Global Fleet Maintenance and Engineering, said. “We have a long-standing global relationship with Daimler, and we welcome the opportunity to trial the Fuso eCanter as UPS continues to realize the benefits of electric trucks.”