Real-world testing for Fuso Canter E-Cell

Fuso has developed a new battery-powered and locally emission-free Canter E-Cell at the Daimler Trucks Centre of Competence for Hybrid Technology.

To prove the practicality of the new E-Cell trucks, FUSO sent eight of them on a field trial in Portugal. All eight vehicles travelled the roads of Portugal with Fuso customers and were permanently monitored and analysed during the one-year trial. They were operated by couriers and freight forwarding agents as well as coucils and public works departments.

On average, the electric Canter trucks travelled 50 kilometres a day, but ranges of up to 109 kilometres were achieved in tests. The manufacturer said that all up, the eight vehicles travelled 51,500 kilometres without a problem. The most used Canter E-Cell was in service with Transporta, a parcel service company, and completed a distance of over 14,000 kilometres during the trial. The range of the lithium-ion batteries stabilised at 100km per charge. Charging the batteries on a 230-volt outlet takes about seven hours, however that time is cut to just one hour on a quick-charging system.

Calculated on the basis of the cost of diesel fuel and electricity in Portugal, the trial produced savings in operating costs of up to 64 per cent compared with a conventional diesel truck. In practical terms, this means a Canter diesel truck burns about 14.08 litres of diesel per 100km, depending on set-up and freight, while the Fuso Canter E-Cell consumes 47.6kWh of electricity over the same distance. Obviously, the amount of savings will differ depending on the costs of diesel and electricity in a particular country.

The capabilities of the electric light-duty truck were tested under a wide range of conditions. The City of Lisbon used the Canter E-Cell for the disposal of vegetation and waste, the City of Porto used it as a collection vehicle for recyclables, the city of Sintra for forest management and the cities of Abrantes and Cascais likewise for landscape maintenance. Transporta parcel service used the vehicle for door-to-door deliveries to households, energy supplier REN for transport purposes within the industrial gas depots in the cities of Sines and Pombal. Finally, the Canter E-Cell also assisted the Portuguese postal service CTT with transport operations between the distribution centres of Lisbon and Coimbras.

"The results of the practical tests have shown that we are on the right track. During the trial phase, the customers experienced the Canter E-Cell as a strong and reliable concept that lives up to the requirements of daily urban delivery transport," said Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia at the presentation of the results.

The Portuguese government co-financed the research project through IAPMEI, the State Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation.

From the outside, the FUSO Canter E-Cell is only distinguished from its diesel-powered or diesel-electric powered brethren by the battery packs mounted to the two sides of the frame. An electric powertrain takes the place of the three-litre diesel engine behind the unchanged Canter cab. The permanent magnet motor sends 110kW(150hp) of power to the rear axle via a one-speed transmission.

A peak torque of 650Nm accelerates the six-tonne truck almost like a passenger car. The hefty torque is available instantly and the manufacturer says the electric Canterleaves many a mid-size car behind.

When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the electronics switch to energy recovery mode, and the electric motor turns into a generator and feeds the exhaust brake energy generated during the rolling phase back to the lithium-ion batteries. Drivers who use energy recovery in the Canter E-Cell regularly can achieve an operating range of more than 100 kilometres on one charge, we're told.

The Canter E-Cell is built in Tramagal on a separate production line for prototype models. Since 2011, Daimler has invested about 27 million Euros in modern production facilities for a plant that celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.