Three fleets have become the first in the UK to take delivery of the new Fuso eCanter electric 7.5-tonne truck following the vehicle’s launch in New York, Tokyo and Berlin.
The eCanter has a GVW of 7.49 tons and a payload of up to 4.5 tons depending on body and use case. Powered by six high-voltage lithium-ion batteries with 13.8kWh each, the electric drivetrain with a permanent-magnet-motor delivers 178bhp (180hp) via a single-gear transmission in the rear axle and brings around a 100km (62-mile) official range.
Wincanton, DPD and Hovis will each operate eCanters on two-year unlimited mileage contracts.
Logistics firm DPD and baking and flour milling firm Hovis will each run two Fuso eCanter trucks initially.
Meanwhile Wincanton will add five Fuso eCanter trucks to its fleet of 3,600 vehicles on a trial for inner city logistics, with plans to roll the vehicles out as part of its home delivery fleet in line with its bid to develop a UK-wide sustainable road transport and distribution system.
Mike Belk, managing director of Mercedes-Benz & Fuso Trucks UK, said: “Today is an historic day for London’s transport operators. Fully electric trucks are no longer science fiction – we at Daimler are already manufacturing them and now we’re putting them into operation with well-known customers. We’re pleased to build on our relationships with DPD, Hovis and Wincanton in this way, as they clearly believe the Fuso eCanter is a viable proposition for their urban distribution business.”
