Meanwhile, instead of a traditional air blown fridge, its insulated body is chilled by a eutectic system that does not require a power source while deliveries are being made, so produces no carbon or noise pollution.
The 7.5 tonne chassis was supplied by local Mercedes-Benz Dealer Rossetts Commercials – the manufacturer’s GB network is additionally responsible for sales and support of the popular Canter light truck range.
The Family-owned West Horsley Dairy presented the truck to staff at a party held to celebrate its 21st anniversary.
Its fleet of 40 temperature-controlled 7.5-tonne trucks and vans is used to deliver an extensive range of high-quality dairy and chilled food products to hotels and restaurants, contract caterers, schools, colleges and universities, and other independent customers throughout London and the Home Counties.
The FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid’s 110 kW (150 hp) diesel engine works in parallel with a state-of-the-art, slimline, 40 kW (54 hp) electric motor. Having set off using electric power alone, the vehicle switches to a combination of diesel and electric operation once a speed of around 6 mph (10 km/h) has been reached. Depending on the power demand, the electric motor also supports the diesel at higher speeds. Switches between modes are seamless and require no input from the driver.
The vehicle’s insulated body was built by Jackson Coachworks, of Loughborough, and features its “eistechnik” eutectic refrigeration system. Eutectic refrigeration is based on the principle of latent heat – a special gel is frozen down to the required temperature at the depot overnight, then, while deliveries are made the following day, gives out energy as it thaws in the form of cold air, thus refrigerating the area around it.
West Horsley Dairy’s first FUSO Canter is now on multi-drop delivery work in central London. According to West Horsley Dairy, the Canter’s compact external dimensions and manoeuvrability make it ideally suited to urban operations, while it also offers the highest body and payload allowance of any 7.5-tonner on the market.
The light weight of its electric motor and lithium-ion batteries – which are covered by a 10-year, unlimited mileage FUSO Warranty – means the hybrid version weighs just 160 kg more than the standard Canter.
The FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid is also fitted with a fuel-saving Idle Start-Stop system as standard, while the light weight of its 7.5-tonne chassis also gives it an advantage over rival products in terms of diesel costs per tonne/kilometre – when running partially loaded or empty, the Canter consume less fuel, but it also incurs less wear and tear on the driveline and braking system than other, heavier vehicles in its gross weight segment.