2 New Fuso eCanter Trucks Are First Full-Electric 7.5-Tonners For Speedy Services
Speedy Services is no stranger to electric vehicles or Fuso trucks. The Newton-le-Willows-based tool and equipment hire specialist has 150 electric vans in its fleet of 1,000-plus vehicles, which also includes more than 25 7.5-tonne (8.3-U.S.-ton) Fuso trucks. To continue its progression toward low and zero-emissions transport, however, the firm has added two light-duty first-generation Fuso eCanters, its first ever 7.5-t battery-powered trucks. One eCanter operates at Speedy’s depot near Whitehaven, while the other was on display at the Speedy Expo 2022 in October in Liverpool prior to being sent to the company’s Warrington branch.
“We reviewed the market before settling on the Fuso eCanter,” says Speedy Services Fleet Director Aaron Powell. “There are battery-electric alternatives available, but these are either aftermarket conversions or vehicles that are very new. The eCanter, by contrast, is a factory-built truck that is already well-proven in operation and comes with a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Driveline aside, it’s also very similar to the diesel-engined Canters that have been providing reliable and cost-efficient service on our fleet for many years.”
An Industry In Transition
Speedy operates more than 200 depots across the UK and Ireland, and offers in excess of 300,000 itemised assets for hire. Powell says the company’s aim to be environmentally responsible is partially driven by customers’ expectations.
“Increasingly, large corporate customers are demanding that every business in their supply chains should take all available measures to operate as sustainably as possible,” he says. “In our case, that means investing in electric vans and trucks, so the eCanter is likely to feature prominently in our plans for the future."
The Fuso eCanter
Speedy equipped its eCanters with Bevan Group dropside platform bodies for hauling plant. Each truck’s electric drivetrain includes six 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batteries that combine for 82.8 kWh total power and 66 kWh usable power. Their permanent-magnet electric motors deliver up to 129 kilowatts (180 horsepower) to the rear axle via a single-gear transmission. The trucks have an up to 100-kilometre (62-mile) range on one charge.
After introducing the original eCanter in 2017, Fuso and parent company Daimler Truck unveiled the Fuso Next Generation eCanter in September 2022. Set to be available in 2023, the truck will be available in four weight classes ranging from 4.25 to 8.55 t (4.7 to 9.4 U.S. t), six wheelbases ranging from 2,500 to 4,750 millimetres (98.4 to 187 inches), Standard and Comfort cab options, and three battery packages. The top L battery option provides a range of up to 200 km (124 mi) on one charge.
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Source: Mercedes-Benz