First local eCanter fleet customer accelerates its EV transition
Australia Post had added 20 Fuso eCanter electric trucks to its fleet, with the first arrivals said to be hitting the road in October.
The post office has forged ahead with fleet electricfication, mostly with electric trikes, claiming it is the largest operator of electric vehicles in Australia with more than 3,000 electric vehicles (EVs) currently in use.
It said it is the first local customer of the eCanter, as part of a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
“With the significant growth in parcel volumes, more vehicles are required in our network,”
Australia Post general manager networks James Dixon said.
“It makes good sense to add electric vehicles as part of this requirement.
“Not only will these eCanters fit our needs in this delivery category, but they will also contribute to our science based target to reduce emissions by 15 per cent by 2025 from a FY19 baseline.”
The eCanters will operate across the Australia Post and StarTrack businesses in major capitals in two body configurations and will be supported by the Daimler Trucks network.
Read our review of Daimler’s eCanter effort, here
“Since working with Daimler Trucks on the pre-production eCanter, we have been keen to have the truck in our fleet,” Dixon said.
“Daimler Trucks is a good choice for Australia Post in the fleet space with a large network and focus on safety.”
The eCanter is equipped with pedestrian-sensing emergency braking technology, a collision mitigation system, lane departure warning and electronic stability program.
Daimler Truck and Bus president and CEO Daniel Whitehead said Australia Post is the ideal first Australian customer for the eCanter.
“Daimler is thrilled to partner with such an iconic brand as Australia Post on a journey towards carbon neutral freight transportation in Australia,” he added.
“The Fuso eCanter’s active safety features, zero local emissions and near-silent operation make it perfect for parcel and letter deliveries in the city and the suburbs.”
Fuso Truck and Bus Australia director Alex Müller applauded Australia Post for its electric mobility leadership.
“The eCanter is a vital proposition for any company that is serious about reducing emissions.”
“Australia Post is setting a great example with deployment of the eCanter, demonstrating that you can get the job done in a sustainable way,” he said.
Six liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries mounted in the eCanter frame store 82.8kW/h of electricity (with 66kW/h of usable power) and feed a permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Power output is rated at 135kW and 390Nm of torque can be delivered the moment the accelerator pedal is pressed.
The eCanter, which has a gross vehicle mass of 7.5 tonnes, became the world’s first small series electric production truck in 2017.
It has been the subject of a rigorous testing regime around the world, including a six-month Australian test running with a maximum load, in addition to real world driving in overseas markets.