Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has unveiled the Fuso eCanter, the first series-production light truck equipped with the combined charging system (CCS), and announced the planned delivery of 500 units within the next two years.
The CCS is a charging system developed by the Charging Interface Initiative e.V. (CharIN), a cross-industry standardisation effort that allows vehicles to charge via conventional sockets, making the process of operating an electric vehicles much easier.
The eCanter is geared towards urban distribution, with an 115kW electric motor, a total weight allowance of 7.49 tonnes, and a loading capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes.
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The vehicle’s batteries consists of 100 Li-ion cells that deliver a maximum voltage of 420V and 13.8kWh each, and can achieve 80% charge within one hour with DC and within nine hours with AC through the CCS charging system.
The eCanter’s electric powertrain will also lower maintenance costs for the truck by 30% in comparison with equivalent conventional vehicles, while in Europe the unit is expected to realise fuel savings of up to $1,200 per 10,000km — and so amortise its additional costs within three years.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, a part of Daimler Trucks, plans to commence mass production from 2019 onwards.
So far, it has already confirmed deliveries to UPS — which plans to deploy the Fuso eCanter in their North American fleet — as well as four New York City based NGOs.
CharIN was founded by German auto makers and today has 84 registered members, including Volkswagen, General Motors, BMW, Daimler, Ford, FCA, Tesla and Hyundai. It maintains offices in Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea, India and the USA.
