Fuso unveils next generation of all-electric eCanter

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) unveiled the next-generation model of the all-electric eCanter today (Sept 7).

Sales of the Next Generation eCanter are scheduled in Japan for Spring 2023. MFTBC said it will also launch the new vehicle in additional overseas markets “in the coming years”.

Fuso said that with the new model, it has adopted the eAxle, integrating the motor with the rear axle and allowing for a more compact drivetrain structure. The current model uses a chassis-mounted motor and a traditional prop shaft.

With these structural changes, a significant expansion of the product line-up was made possible. The Next Generation eCanter lineup includes 28 variants for the Japanese market and approximately 80 variants for overseas markets to address a wider range of logistics needs.

In addition to the current 7.5 ton (GVM) model, the new vehicle comes in weight classes ranging from five tonnes to eight tonnes for Japanese customers, and starts from the four-tonne class for overseas models.

The cab choice has also been expanded with the new model. Fuso will now offer a wide cab (2130mm) that can accommodate more cargo, in addition to the standard cab width (1700mm). The variety of wheelbases has also been expanded, from 2500mm up to 4750 mm.

With the Next Generation eCanter, Fuso is introducing a new modular concept for the batteries. The vehicle can house one to three batteries, based on the wheelbase.

The trucks equipped with a single battery with a rated capacity of 41kWh can drive approximately 80km on one charge, while those with two batteries can be driven for approximately 140km, and those with three batteries around 200km. In addition, Japanese customers have access to a V2X function that enables the eCanter's batteries to supply power to homes and other equipment in the event of an emergency.

The new model is also equipped with the “ePTO” power take-off unit which enables special-purpose applications for customers wishing to operate their eCanter with a tipper, rear crane, or refridgerated van body, among other options.

The Next Generation eCanter also comes with enhanced EV-specific functions. Regenerative braking can be controlled at four levels, contributing to power savings and enhanced drivability. Additionally, Battery Pre-Conditioning, which allows the battery to be preheated through a timer setting during AC charging, as well as the Heater Cut Switch feature to save energy consumption, are newly integrated. The Energy-saving Heating function, which warms only the most needed areas such as the seats and steering wheel, has also been added.

The Next Generation eCanter also comes with additional advanced safety functions to support safe driving.

Active Sideguard Assist 1.0 is featured for the first time in a Fuso light-duty truck. This reduces the risk of accidents on turns by monitoring the blind spot on the side of the truck. When necessary, the feature activates a collision mitigation brake system.

Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA5) will also be standard, as will the driver attention monitoring system, Active Attention Assist, and Intelligent Headlight Control, which automatically switches between high or low beams, and Traffic Sign Recognition, which displays traffic signs recognised by the camera on the dashboard.

Other safety features include the electric parking brake that maintains stable braking force on hills, and the Back Eye Camera System that assists drivers in avoiding collisions while reversing.

The Next Generation eCanter features a newly designed interior and exterior befitting the transportation industry’s shift to electric mobility. The all-electric truck has been reimagined with the FUSO Black Belt motif on the front face, with touches of orange and blue design elements. The LED headlights and daytime running lights, as well as the latest LED rear combination lights, offer reliable visibility.

The interior design has also been upgraded with a new and slightly lower dashboard to provide more space, more vertical space inside the cab, and a new 10-inch full LCD panel linked to the steering wheel switches have been installed.

Fuso Australia says that at this stage, it is too early to discuss when the next generation model might be available in Australia. Whatever the timing, Fuso said it will undertake a local validation program in our unique conditions to ensure a seamless introduction.

Considering that the first eCanter rolled off the line in Japan in 2017, and it was released here in 2021, it could be some time before we see the Next Generation eCanter.