NEXT GENERATION ECANTER REVEALED
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEXT GENERATION FUSO ECANTER will bring a much wider range of transport applications into the skillset of the pioneering all-electric light duty truck.
Exactly when Kiwi operators will reap those benefits – which include cab width options, multiple wheelbases and three modular battery capacity choices – remains unclear.
Fuso says the new ecanter will be available initially in Japan from mid-2023 followed by overseas markets. It’s likely to be another year after that before FUSO New Zealand can supply the new model.
“We expect there will be significant global demand for the next generation ecanter and are hoping to see it in New Zealand sometime in 2024,” says Kevin Smith, Fuso NZ general manager.
“We do still have stock of the current generation ecanter available to us and customers that are using that product are making strong progress in understanding how to transition their operations to accommodate edelivery.
“There is no doubt that the next generation will offer more options to our customers, however, exactly when those options will be available here is still unclear,” Smith says.
The new ecanter made its global debut in Japan on
September 7 with its European premiere following three weeks later at the IAA Transportation 2022 event in Hanover, Germany.
Since the launch of the small-series production ecanter in 2017, about 450 vehicles have been handed over to customers in Japan, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, covering a total of over six million kilometres.
It’s this five years of real customer experience and feedback that FUSO has called on to develop the Next Generation ecanter and provide a more diverse range of customer solutions.
Among the key changes for the Next Generation ecanter is an eaxle which integrates the motor with the rear axle. By eliminating a prop shaft a more compact drivetrain structure is achieved and this also provides the architecture for the modular design that expands the range of wheelbases choices – the most compact being 2,500mm and the longest 4,750mm.
With these structural changes, a significant expansion of the product line-up is possible. FUSO’S Next Generation ecanter line-up will globally cover more than 100 variants, including 28 variants for the Japanese domestic market to address a wider range of logistics needs.
In addition to the current 7.5 ton (GVW) model, the new vehicle comes in weight classes ranging from 4.25 tons to 8.55 tons. The cab variation has also been expanded; now offering a new wide cab (1,995mm) in addition to the standard cab width (1,695mm) that allows for more flexibility on routes covering narrow roads.
The new modular battery concept means the vehicle becomes available with three battery pack options, based on the wheelbase. Vehicles equipped with a single battery, with a rated capacity of 41.3kwh, have a range of up to 70km on one charge.
Vehicles with two batteries (83kwh) cover a range of up 140km, and those with three batteries (124kwh) up to 200km. To provide customers with even more flexibility, the new model can be equipped with an optional power take-off (PTO) unit which enables special purpose solutions for customers wishing to operate their ecanter with a tipper, rear crane, or climatecontrolled van body, among other various options. This allows an even greater range of applications for customers.
Japanese customers will 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 or natural disaster.
The complete vehicle line-up, specifications, and features may differ from market to market. Details of the overseas models will be announced at the time of their launch.
An enhanced range of Ev-specific functions include a new four-stage regenerative braking system, contributing to power