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UPS Adds Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter Electric Truck To Its U.S. Fleet

Electric trucks are all the rage now, with Daimler and Tesla at each other’s neck. Cummins isn’t too far behind, but Daimler has the upper hand both in its domestic market of Germany and the United States. Regarding the latter, UPS has recently become the first commercial customer in the U.S. of the Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter. “Wait, didn’t Nissan buy Mitsubishi back in 2016?”
Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter electric truck 8 photos
Photo: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck
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The eCanter is made by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. Daimler owns almost 90 percent of the Kawasaki-based company, and that’s basically why this Mitsubishi is different than the one that manufactures passenger cars. Having made that clear, why is the eCanter such an important truck?

As the headline suggests, the powertrain is pure electric. Combining six lithium-ion batteries with 420 volts and 13.8 kWh a piece, the Fuso eCanter can travel up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) on a full charge. That’s not nearly enough for the needs of long-haul operators, but ok-ish for urban delivery.

UPS is one of the first U.S.-based companies to buy the eCanter for its package delivery business, but United Parcel Service isn’t the only company to give the thumbs up to Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. Of the 500 examples planned for delivery within the next two years, a handful of workhorses will be used by four New York City-based non-governmental organizations. These are Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Botanical Garden, Habitat for Humanity New York City, as well as Big Reuse Brooklyn.

Daimler makes a case for the Fuso eCanter by drawing attention to the reduced operation noise levels and the lack of tailpipe emissions. In fact, the German mothership argues that the Fuso-branded newcomer offers operating savings of 1,000 euros ($1,200) for every 10,000 kilometers (6,214 miles) when compared to an equivalent workhorse that relies on diesel fuel.

“Our new Fuso eCanter now addresses the increasing global demand for products to meet and exceed high CO2 emission standards. It offers an attractive and cost-effective alternative to combustion engines and makes electric trucks key to the future of inner city distribution” commented Marc Llistosella, head of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and head of Daimler Trucks Asia.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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