Waiting for the IAA, the new FUSO eCanter was unveiled in Japan
The vehicle is available with three battery pack options, based on the wheelbase. Vehicles equipped with a single battery, with a rated capacity of 41,3 kWh, have a range of up to 70 km on one charge. Vehicles with two batteries cover a range of up 140 km, and those with three batteries up to 200 km.
As we reported here, the next generation of the renown FUSO eCanter – the electric version of the famous light truck made in Japan and belonging to the Daimler Group – will be introduced in the European market in one week at the IAA 2022. Meanwhile, in the Far East, the new electric truck made its debut, on September 7, in Japan. Since the launch of the small-series production eCanter in 2017, around 450 vehicles have been handed over to customers in Japan, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, covering a total of over six million kilometers.
FUSO eCanter: the Japanese preview
Start of sales of the Next Generation eCanter in the Japanese market is scheduled for spring 2023. The Next Generation eCanter will feature the eAxle, integrating the motor with the rear axle and thus allowing for a more compact drivetrain structure. With these structural changes, a significant expansion of the product lineup was made possible. FUSO’s Next Generation eCanter lineup will globally cover more than 100 variants, including 28 variants for the Japanese domestic market to address a wider range of logistics needs.
In addition to the current 7.5 ton (GVW) model, the new vehicle comes in weight classes ranging from 4.25 tons to 8.55 tons. The cab variation has also been expanded; now offering a new wide cab (1,995 mm) in addition to the standard cab width (1,695 mm) that allows for more flexibility on routes covering narrow roads. The range of wheelbases has also been expanded, from 2,500 mm up to 4,750 mm.
With the Next Generation eCanter, FUSO is introducing a new modular battery concept. The vehicle is available with three battery pack options, based on the wheelbase. Vehicles equipped with a single battery, with a rated capacity of 41,3 kWh, have a range of up to 70 km on one charge. Vehicles with two batteries cover a range of up 140 km, and those with three batteries up to 200 km. To provide customers with even more flexibility, the new model is also equipped with a PTO power take-off unit which enables special purpose solutions for customers wishing to operate their eCanter with a tipper, rear crane, or climate-controlled van body, among other various options.
