Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has started production of the Fuso eCanter electric light-duty truck in Tramagal, Portugal. Production of the eCanter in Japan began in July.

The Fuso eCanter is produced on the same production line as the legacy Canter truck at the Tramagal plant – the electric powertrain components are installed at separate stations along the line.

MFTBC has already announced its first commercial customer in the Japanese market: Seven-Eleven will add 25 eCanters to its fleet by the end of this year. The vehicles coming from Portugal will be handed over to customers in Europe and the US within the next month.

Daimler Fuso eCanter electric light-duty truck

The eCanter has a range of 62 miles and a load capacity of two to three tons, depending on body and usage. The vehicle’s electric powertrain contains six 420 V, 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery packs, built by Daimler subsidiary Accumotive in Kamenz, Germany.

According to MFTBC, the eCanter offers operating cost savings of up to €1,000 per 10,000 kilometers, compared to a legacy diesel truck.

“With today’s start of production of the eCanter, we become the first global manufacturer to produce an all-electric truck in series,” said Mitsubishi Fuso CEO Marc Llistosella. “We already received the first customer orders and will mark the global launch of this truck in New York this September.”

Source: Daimler via Green Car Congress