Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. announced that it will bring a limited-production line of fully electric trucks, known as the eCanter, to market in the U.S., Japan and Europe before the end of 2017. It will be the first 100% plug-in electric work truck designed and produced by a major truck manufacturer, the company noted.
The eCanter is a Class 4 truck with a 15,995 lb. GVWR and a payload capacity of roughly 9,380 lb. It has a practical range up to 100 miles, one-hour quick charge capability, and standard eight-hour overnight charge.
“We believe the eCanter will help us chart the future of medium-duty trucking in urban environments,” said Jecka Glasman, Fuso’s president and chief executive officer. “It delivers up to a 100-mile range, with zero emissions and zero noise pollution—what we call positive energy. We’ve had preliminary conversations with multiple customers and they are enthusiastic about the possibilities this new truck represents.”
The eCanter also offers flexible battery configurations, so users can choose between maximizing the eCanter’s range to its full capacity of 100 miles, or working with a somewhat smaller range in order to maximize its payload, the company noted.
“While the new eCanter has a different look than our standard FE Series cabovers, the electric drivetrain is fitted to our standard 151.6-in. wheelbase cab-chassis—so customers and upfitters will find the same maneuverability and the same familiar 33.5-in. wide frame, same body attachment capability, cab-to-axle dimensions, and box sizes as they’ve enjoyed with our traditional turbocharged diesel cabovers,” said Otto Schmid, Fuso’s director of product management. “And the eCanter includes a high-capacity electric power take-off so the eCanter can be used for refrigerated applications and those requiring a liftgate or other auxiliary device.”
