trucksales Innovation Award 2024: The Winner!

The latest-generation Fuso eCanter is already in series production and trucks are on their way to Australian customers. We reckon this second generation eCanter makes sufficient technology gains over its predecessors to merit a second Innovation Award.

Daimler Truck and its subsidiary, Fuso, have been at the forefront of electric truck development since most developed countries expressed a need for low- and zero-emissions trucks.

Since its 2017 launch in Japan, making it the first series-produced, all-electric, light-duty truck in its home market, the eCanter has been running in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, with selected fleets, clocking up millions of kilometres in the process. We tested Australian-market models back in June 2021 and in 2023.

Following six years of operational experience, the Next Generation eCanter looks externally little different, but battery, chassis and powertrain developments make the new eCanter an electrically and mechanically different vehicle.

The biggest change is the adoption of an electrically driven eAxle – an electric motor and mechanical final drive – that replaces the previous powertrain of mid-mounted electric motor, prop shaft and conventional rear axle. That change allows for greater battery capacity choice and solves an eAxle packaging problem.

In the lead-up to the launch of the latest eCanter, Daimler made no secret of the fact that the Next Generation model would incorporate an eAxle, but its innovative design surprised us.

Rather than having the electric motor bolted to a conventional diff on a rigid rear drive axle, the new eCanter has a chassis-mounted, electric motor and final drive unit, with open half-shafts connected to the rear-wheel ends. Its conventional leaf spring packs are bolted to a U-shaped cross beam that sits behind the power unit.

This rear axle assembly owes its origin to the de Dion rear ends that were popular in pre- and post-World War II sports and racing cars, including the famous Silver Arrows.

It may seem incongruous that a performance-car rear end should find its way into a modern electric truck, but stay with us on this one. A performance-car de Dion rear axle reduced unsprung weight and eliminated leaf-spring wind-up caused by high acceleration and braking forces, but in the eCanter the rationale is different: eliminating the need to couple the electric motor to the diff ‘nose’ of a rigid axle.

We’re sure that a weakness of all the other eAxle designs we’ve seen is that because it’s bolted directly to an axle the electric motor is exposed to harsh road vibrations. By chassis-mounting the eCanter’s electric motor and final drive gearing, Fuso engineers have cushioned these components from most road vibrations. The half-shafts carry no loads other than torque to the fully-floating wheel hubs.

Although there’s no option at this stage, we’re confident that the eCanter’s de Dion rear end can be adapted to an air/leaf suspension design.

Another advantage of the new powertrain design is that the motor and final drive assembly is positioned well aft in the frame and this compact arrangement, without an intrusive prop shaft, means that more space between the chassis rails can be devoted to battery packs. The chassis can house one, two or three battery modules, depending on the wheelbase choice, from 2500mm up to 4750mm, in four increments.

The three different battery packs are designated S, M and L and all have lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell technology that provides long service life and more usable energy. LFP batteries aren’t quite as energy-dense as some other lithium battery types, but aren’t fire-prone like lithium-cobalt batteries.

The battery pack in the S variant has a nominal capacity of 41kWh (41 kilowatt-hours) and enables a range of up to 70 kilometres. In the M variant, the nominal capacity is 83kWh and the range is up to 140 kilometres. The most powerful L variant offers a nominal capacity of 124kWh and a range of up to 200 kilometres, which is far more than the distance usually covered per day in light distribution traffic.

Battery charge recuperation, when the truck is running downhill or slowing in traffic, can increase the range even further. In comparison, the first eCanters had nominal battery capacity of 81kWh and a range of up to 100 kilometres.

The greatly increased operating range has allowed the 2024 eCanter model range to be expanded, with both narrow (1700mm) and wide cab (2130mm) models available, with GVMs from 4250kg up to 8550kg.

The first eCanter was available only as a 7.5-tonner, with a wheelbase of 3400mm.

The New Generation eCanter is powered by a 110kW motor, for variants with gross weights up to 6000kg and 129kW for variants with gross weights of 7490kg and 8550kg. Up to 430Nm of instant torque is available at lift off and the designed maximum speed is 90km/h.

Mechanical and electric power take offs are also available.

The Next Generation eCanter has enhanced EV functions, including four-level regenerative braking and Battery Pre-Conditioning, which allows the battery to be preheated during AC charging. A Heater Cut Switch cancels cabin blower heating that uses more battery capacity, in favour of heating only the seats and steering wheel.

The Next Generation eCanter also comes with additional advanced safety functions. Active Sideguard Assist, Active Brake Assist LED headlights and daytime running lights, plus LED rear combination lights, and Intelligent Headlight Control.

Active Attention Assist is intended to reduce fatigue-induced incidents, with white line recognition, steering sensors and a facial recognition camera. Driver inattention is signalled by a buzzer and dashboard display.

The Next Generation eCanter features upgraded interior features, with a slightly lower dashboard and a 254mm (10-inch) LCD panel, linked to steering wheel switches.

Fuso’s telematics Truckonnect has EV-specific features for the eCanter. The eRange function that displays the remaining mileage and EV battery capacity, can be tracked on the Truckonnect portal. In addition, the new model has a Charging Management System function that allows operators to set a timer, to charge vehicle batteries when electricity costs are lowest.

In Australia, the limited release first generation eCanter has proved successful in the metro pick up and delivery market and the Next Generation model’s enhanced safety, operating range and varied cab and chassis configurations are expected to generate even more sales.