Production of the new FUSO eCanter starts in Portugal

More powerful, even more efficient, greater range – along with a wide range of applications and CO₂-neutral operation: This summarizes the Next Generation eCanter from FUSO. After its European premiere at the IAA Transportation in Hannover in September 2022, the Daimler Truck subsidiary FUSO celebrates the start of production of the fully electric light truck in Europe.

(Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Tramagal) At the event held at the Mitsubishi FUSO Europe (“MFTE”) production plant in Tramagal, Portugal, to mark the rollout of the first Next Generation eCanter from European production, company representatives and guests from politics and business came together.

For Karl Deppen, CEO of Daimler Truck Asia, the start of production of the FUSO eCanter marks a milestone: “We at Daimler Truck are committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and want to lead sustainable transport to success. We aim to offer only CO₂-neutral vehicles in our global core markets by 2039. With the new generation of eCanters from Tramagal, we are making it particularly easy for our customers to switch to e-mobility. We are taking an important step towards CO₂-neutral transport.”

At the event, Karl Deppen, together with Arne Barden, CEO of MFTE, proudly announced another impressive milestone for the Tramagal plant with the 250,000th FUSO Canter produced on-site. Arne Barden stated: “The MFTE team is proud to have built the iconic FUSO Canter here in Tramagal now in its fifth generation! Thank you to the highly dedicated team that has successfully managed the launch of the Next Generation eCanter!” The MFTE plant in Tramagal has been producing the FUSO Canter since 1980.

Prior to the event, media representatives had the opportunity to experience the new vehicles during a factory tour and an exclusive driving event at the Autódromo do Estoril and the surrounding public roads, getting a firsthand impression of the performance of the Next Generation eCanter. During the driving event, experts from FUSO Europe provided detailed insights into the application variety of the new vehicle and informed about tailored e-mobility solutions.

The Next Generation eCanter: Pioneer for Sustainable Transport

Since the introduction of the eCanter in 2017, FUSO, the Japanese subsidiary of Daimler Truck, has been regarded as a pioneer and leader in electric trucks and has been consistently working on implementing sustainable transport solutions. Currently, over 550 FUSO eCanters are in customer operation in Europe, Japan, the United States, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. The total distance covered by the fully electric and thus locally emission-free global eCanter fleet now stands at around eight million kilometers – equivalent to about 200 circumnavigations of the Earth. The Next Generation eCanter continues this success story at a new level. Production of the electric light truck started in the sister plant in Kawasaki, Japan, in the first quarter of 2023. Kawasaki supplies the FUSO Next Generation eCanter in Japan and all other non-European markets worldwide.

In Europe, the sale of the FUSO Next Generation eCanter will initially start in 17 markets (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Greece, and Poland).

More variants for more flexibility

To better meet customer demands, FUSO has made several adjustments to the Next Generation eCanter. While the previous electric truck was only available as a 7.49-tonner with a wheelbase of 3,400 millimeters, customers now have the choice between six wheelbases ranging from 2,500 to 4,750 millimeters, as well as a permissible total weight of 4.25 to 8.55 tons. The payload capacity of the chassis is up to 5 tons. The Next Generation eCanter is powered by either a 110 kW (variants with a total weight of 4.25 and 6 tons) or a 129 kW (variants with a total weight of 7.49 and 8.55 tons) electric motor with an optimized drivetrain and 430 Nm of torque, with a maximum speed of 89 km/h (limited).

Depending on the wheelbase, three different battery packs are available: S, M, and L. The batteries use lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP). These are characterized by a long lifespan and more usable energy. The battery pack in the S variant has a nominal capacity of 41 kWh and enables a range of up to 70 kilometers. The M variant has a nominal capacity of 83 kWh, with a range of up to 140 kilometers. The L variant, as the strongest package, offers a nominal capacity of 124 kWh and a range of up to 200 kilometers. This is far more than the distance typically covered in light distribution traffic per day. Through recuperation, the range can be further increased, which simultaneously minimizes charging breaks. For comparison: Previously, the eCanter only had one battery option with a nominal capacity of 81 kWh and a range of up to 100 kilometers.

Regarding battery charging, the Next Generation eCanter is compatible with all voltage networks of the key markets. The charging unit supports both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging. The charging standard is the Combined Charging System (CCS), and it can be charged with up to 104 kW. A DC fast charge from 20 to 80 percent of capacity is possible in approximately 24 (S), 26 (M), and 39 minutes (L), depending on the battery pack, while AC charging (11 and 22 kW) takes between about four and six hours, depending on the battery pack.

Location Tramagal: Pioneer in Sustainability

As part of its overall sustainability strategy, the MFTE plant in Tramagal has successfully reduced its CO₂ emissions step by step in recent years, achieving carbon neutrality in production by the end of 2022. To reach this milestone, MFTE has continuously expanded the use of renewable energy sources and completed the transition to green electricity sources. 1,200 solar panels on the roofs of the halls produce up to 350 megawatts of electricity per year. For the future, a power production of up to 600 megawatts is targeted. In addition to expanding photovoltaic systems, the plant is also testing technologies for the local production of green hydrogen.

Reducing water consumption is another sustainability measure that the site is focusing on: A new water treatment plant already processes over 60 percent of the process water and returns it to the production cycle. At the same time, optimized rainwater collection is in progress for more sustainable irrigation of green areas.

Mitsubishi FUSO Europe employs around 500 employees in Tramagal. The company is the largest employer in the region. From Portugal, the vehicles are distributed to 32 European countries as well as Morocco. Mitsubishi FUSO Truck Europe is a significant exporter and the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in Portugal.

90 different European suppliers

“Made in Europe” for the FUSO Next Generation eCanter refers not only to the vehicle assembly in Tramagal: More than 50 percent of the components of the electric truck come from over 90 different European suppliers. In line with the production of the fully electric FUSO eCanter, MFTE has also been gradually transitioning its entire internal logistics and warehousing fleet to locally emission-free electric vehicles since last year.

Photos: © Daimler Truck