Electric Mercedes-Benz and Fuso trucks officially launched

Daimler Truck has officially launched its range of advanced all-electric trucks from Fuso and Mercedes-Benz in Australia.

The next-generation Fuso eCanter, Mercedes-Benz eActros and eEconic raise the bar for electric trucks introducing new technology for Australian customers determined to drive down their emissions.

With up to 300km of realistic range, full connectivity, active safety and the reassurance of comprehensive real-world testing, Daimler Truck says its electric workhorses are unmatched.

Daimler Truck President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, introduced the three electric trucks at a special event in Melbourne this week.

“Our customers don’t have to choose between sustainability and productivity. With these groundbreaking electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz and Fuso, they can have both,” he said.

“We didn’t take shortcuts to rush these models to market, but invested more time and money to make sure we delivered trucks with the innovation that our customers expect from Daimler Truck, which means the most advanced trucks in their class.”

Mr Whitehead said Daimler Truck is ready to give customers the tools they need to hit their transport sustainability goals.

“We’ve been helping our customers reduce their emissions for many years and led the way with our Euro 6 trucks from 2016, which also have remarkable fuel consumption,” he said.

Daimler Truck Australia Pacific Sales and Marketing Vice President, Andrew Assimo, said the company is ready to help customers achieve their goals.

“Daimler Truck offers our customers a complete sustainable truck solution, whether it be low emission diesel or battery electric,” he said.

“As part of that commitment, when it comes to these amazing electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz and Fuso, we can help with everything from selecting the correct specification and route planning to charging infrastructure advice.

"Each truck comes with a complimentary servicing package and there is a raft of financing packages including guaranteed buyback options,” Mr Assimo added.

“Daimler Truck customers have already travelled more than eight million kilometres in electric trucks around the world, including in Australia since 2021, and we are excited to be able to share what we have learned and give our customers an edge over their competitors,” he concluded.

The Mercedes-Benz eActros is available as a 4x2 and 6x2 rigid as well as a 4x2 prime mover with all models developed for local distribution.

The eEconic is available as a 6x2 and has primarily been developed for the waste industry as a collection vehicle, however its class-leading vision makes it the perfect truck for urban and inner city deliveries.

Fuso is offering a full line-up of eCanters, with no less than 14 models, with three different battery sizes, various wheelbases and two cab sizes.

Customers can take advantage of Daimler Truck Financial Services offerings including Fast Track Finance and Guaranteed Buy-Back programs that have been tailored to accommodate the unique needs of Daimler Truck electric truck owners.

DTFS will provide a smooth and familiar financing process, while introducing the added convenience of incorporating accessories and finance options for EV chargers and service plans.

All Daimler Truck electric trucks come with some form of complimentary service packages to best support customers.

The eActros is available as a 4x2 and 6x2 rigid as well as a 4x2 prime mover.
The rigid models can deliver up to 300km of range, while the prime mover can deliver up to 200km due to its higher weight-hauling capacity.

The rigid eActros has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 19 tonnes (technical figure), 16 tonnes (practical figure in Australia due to axle weight restrictions).

It uses the class-leading eAxle concept with two integrated liquid-cooled motors and a two-speed transmission. Maximum power is 536hp (400kW) peak performance and 443hp (330kW) continuous output.

Three thermally controlled lithium-ion battery packs have 336kWh capacity.

The eActros features a five-stage regenerative braking which works like an engine brake to both spare the service brakes and recoup significant amounts of electricity, which is fed into the batteries.

Charging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent takes 1hr 15min (using a 160kW charger) and the plug is a CCS Combo-2.

The eActros features the second generation MirrorCam system and a full suite of safety and driver-assistance featrues.

The eActros is produced in Worth, Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz eEconic shares the same electrical architecture as the eActros e300. It’s application as a waste collection vehicle and the associated demands, mean that its range is up to 200km.

It features the same safety technology as the eActros, which is especially important given the urban environment in which it operates. The eEconic is based on the diesel Econic model that was designed from the ground-up as a city-centric waste collection truck with low entry and excellent panoramic visibility.

A full line-up of Fuso eCanter includes 14 different models.

Customers can choose City Cab and Wide Cab options, different wheelbases, three different battery packs and various body options.

The Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) ranges from 4.5 tonnes to 8.5 tonnes.

The eCanter features an eAxle with integrated liquid-cooled motor and reduction gearbox. It is the only truck in its class with an eAxle, which optimises and eAxle design to boost efficiency and reduce weight.

It produces 110kW or 130kW depending on the model.

The eCanter can be charged using AC or DC so some customers may not need to invest in a DC charger for their application.

Charging times are approximately 1 hour for full charge with 100kW DC charger or 4.9 hours using AC three-phase. It only takes 45min to go from five per cent top 90 per cent using a 100kW DC charger.

The eCanter features lithium ion phosphate (LFP) battery packs. Options include one, two or three, with 83kWh capacity combined. These are thermally-controlled with a class-leading in-battery liquid thermal control system to ensure the batteries operate at the most efficient temperature in all conditions.

Canter models up to 6-tonne GVM feature Independent Front Suspension (IFS) for superior handling and precise rack and pinion steering.

The range depends on the battery back chosen, starting at up to 100km for the single battery version, up to 200km for the e615 and up to 300km for larger three battery units. The exact range will vary depending on the geography of the area, driving method, type of load and body, among other factors.

The next generation eCanter was the worthy winner of the trucksales Innovation Award 2024.