The factory-built 7.5-tonne Canter will be shown at Birmingham NEC from 29th April to 1st May, and has been developed in partnership by Rossetts Commercial and specialist vehicle converter Coolertech.
The adapted Canter employs a 150hp diesel engine which works in parallel with a 54hp electric motor, a set-up that Mercedes claims offers considerable fuel savings and correspondingly low CO2 emissions.
In addition to the Canter Eco Hybrid, Worthing-based Rossetts’ demonstration fleet also includes examples of three more vehicles built by Coolertech, all based on Mercedes-Benz vans.
The recently launched AiroSprint box body is mounted on a 3.5-tonne Sprinter chassis cab and aimed at home shopping operations. As well as enhancing the vehicle’s appearance and contributing to fuel efficiency, Coolertech states its relatively narrow streamlined design, which follows the lines and width of the vehicle’s cab, minimises the risk of accident damage when working in tight areas.
Also available for trial are a medium-length Sprinter van with dual-temperature (chilled and frozen) conversion and a lightweight chiller based on the Extra-long variant of the Citan small van. The Sprinter features a side door allowing access for palletised product as well as personnel, while the Citan combines insulated side and rear doors with a removable lining for easy cleaning.
Commenting on the partnership, Coolertech managing director Paul Burridge said: ‘We enjoy an excellent relationship with Rossetts Commercials and are looking forward to teaming up with them once again at the CV Show. I have known dealer principal Perry Reeves for years and we work in a true spirit of partnership which benefits both of our companies, as well as customers of course.’
‘Coolertech is a market leader in terms of the design and quality of its bodies and conversions, and we’re both excited about the prospects for the new, temperature-controlled Canter Eco Hybrid – it’s sure to appeal strongly to operators seeking to enhance their environmental credentials by minimising their carbon footprints,’ added Perry Reeves.