Fuso eCanter testing continues apace

The world’s first production all-electric light truck is being driven around the clock on Victorian roads as part of a six-month test.

This is in addition to a substantial global testing program and the real world experience of operators in the United States, Europe and Japan since the eCanter’s introduction in 2017.

The eCanter was developed from the ground-up using Daimler’s research and development resources and offers Australian customers a fully-integrated Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) all-electric truck.

For the local test program, three drivers have been taking turns during each 24-hour period, running the eCanter on designated loops before returning and charging the truck, ready for the next driver. It has been run empty as well at its maximum GVM of 7.5 tonnes in all conditions.

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“The eCanter test program is one small part of the testing and development program for this ground-breaking all-electric vehicle, but it is very important,” said Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead.

“Our customers need to know that they are buying a product from a manufacturer that has done the hard work to ensure its vehicle has been properly developed and tested,” he added.

Mr Whitehead said there has been a lot of interest in eCanter from large Australian fleets.

“These customers are especially attracted by the fact the eCanter is a fully-integrated manufacturer developed and tested electric truck, rather than something put together by a third party using a donor truck and electric components from another source,” Mr Whitehead said.

Fuso took an eCanter to the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show and select Australian fleets subsequently briefly trialled the battery-electric truck.

Like all Canter 4x2 models, the eCanter is equipped with a long list of unmatched safety features including advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, electronic stability control, hill start assist, reversing camera and driver and passenger airbags.