The Fuso eCanter Generation is Ready to be Marketed in Indonesia
Entering the Testing Stage, the Fuso eCanter Generation is Ready to be Marketed
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), which is part of the Daimler Group, produces the Fuso eCanter. For the European and US markets the eCanter is manufactured at the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe (MFTE) factory, Tramagal, Portugal. The Fuso eCanter is on the same production line as the conventional Canter.
In July 2017 the Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter electric truck entered the production line at the Mitsubishi Fuso factories in Kawasaki Japan and Tramagal Portugal. The Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter is produced in Kawasaki to serve the domestic market, while from Portugal it will be exported to a number of European countries and the United States.
Citing the official Fuso Trucks page, on September 14 2017, the FUSO eCanter was officially launched to the global market in New York, USA. Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA), said, “FUSO eCanter underscores our commitment to looking ahead and developing transportation solutions that are sustainable and reliable that benefit our customers, communities and our planet. DTA has become the center of competence for hybrid and electric technology at Daimler Trucks,” he explained.
For the first time, DTA introduced the world of the electric light truck FUSO eCanter at the 2016 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) in Hanover, Germany. As the first electric light truck from a Daimle subsidiary, MFTBC will only sell a total of 500 first-generation trucks to selected customers.
Looking back, since 2005, FUSO has experienced both hybrid and electric drivetrains. At that time, FUSO offered the Canter Eco-Hybrid, a truck with a hybrid drivetrain, to consumers in Europe and Asia. In 2010, at the International Motor Show Germany devoted to commercial vehicles (IAA), FUSO presented the first prototype of the electric-powered Canter.
The production development of this next-generation eCanter is the result of all the experiences and findings of various customer trials with pre-production vehicles in Portugal and Germany conducted between 2014 and 2017.
In terms of functionality, the eCanter is capable of carrying a payload of up to 4.5 tons. This electric vehicle has six lithium-ion batteries with a voltage of 420 V 13.8 kWh each. The electric drivetrain with a permanent magnet motor is capable of producing 129 kW (180 hp) through a single gear transmission at the rear axle. A continuous 285 Newton meters of power allows the 7.49 tonne truck to accelerate almost like a passenger car.
The maximum speed of the eCanter like other vehicles in the same class is around 80 kilometers per hour. The battery with a total weight of about 600 kilograms allows a working range of more than 100 kilometers.
The new generation of eCanter
Since 2021, MFTBC has been developing technology for eCanters such as fast charging and lithium-ion batteries at Kitsuregawa Proving Ground, Sakura City, Tochigi, Japan. According to Karl Deppen, President and CEO of MFTBC, the company is continuing to develop and test the next-generation eCanter. The latest generation will come with upgraded cruising range and safety features. eCanter has also been tested in areas with hot and cold climates, both at home and abroad.
“We are continuing the development of electric vehicles and expanding our EV infrastructure. Our main goal is to achieve CO2 neutrality in our commercial vehicles. Through this ambition, we hope to make a sustainable contribution not only to our customers' businesses, but also to society as a whole.” said Hironobu Ando, Vice President and Head of Product Engineering MFTBC (16/3).
In Indonesia, the eCanter was first introduced by PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KTB), the agent holding the Mitsubishi Fuso brand. At the 2017 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) event which will take place at ICE BSD City, Tangerang, 10-20 August 2017, Mitsubishi FUSO displays the Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter Prototype electric truck. Until now there has been no official update from KTB regarding when the eCanter will start selling in Indonesia.