FUSO eCanters Operate in Icy Northern Finland, Proving Cold-weather Performance

• Two FUSO eCanters have been operating in Finland since the beginning of 2024 for Europe's largest fleet operator, DB SCHENKER
• The units, some of Daimler Truck's northernmost electric trucks in service, impress in frigid weather conditions near the Arctic Circle
• Electric preconditioning helps maintain range performance

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President and CEO: Karl Deppen, hereafter “MFTBC”) announces German logistics company DB SCHENKER has successfully integrated two new 7.5 tonne eCanters into its fleet in Finland in January 2024 for daily operations in one of Europe's coldest regions.

One unit has been making last-mile deliveries in Kuusamo, a northeastern city that experiences heavy snow accumulation and temperatures as low as -30° C. This vehicle is currently one of MFTBS’s northernmost electric trucks in operation to date. Another unit is deployed in Oulu, about 200 km southwest of Kuusamo.  

Driving the eCanter in Finland

DB SCHENKER previously integrated 50 earlier model eCanters into its operations across Europe. The decision to deploy its first two new eCanters in these locations was a conscious one with an interest in dispelling preconceptions about using electric trucks in cold climates.

Drivers at DB SCHENKER's Kuusamo hub have logged more than 1,200 KM with the eCanter in recent weeks making deliveries to customers and report excellent performance. The vehicle starts flawlessly despite the prevailing low temperatures.

Electric Preconditioning is a Key Advantage

One important aspect of the eCanter’s operations being undertaken in Finland is electric preconditioning, which brings the battery to ideal temperatures before operation.

Preconditioning is a function available with the new eCanter that allows a user to pre-heat the eCanter’s battery with power from the grid instead of from the battery before the start of a journey.

This enables the vehicle to operate at an improved performance, even though the ambient temperature is cold.

"I've never been stranded with an empty battery,” Mr. Määttä said. “I plan my routes and those of our other vehicles accordingly.”

Naturally, planning will become easier when the vehicle has a longer range in the warmer seasons. DB SCHENKER is looking forward to gaining further experience with the new eCanter throughout the year.

Sustainable Logistics as a Strategy

For Harald Knaapinen, Head of Land Transport Finland at DB SCHENKER, the use of the FUSO eCanter is also part of the strategy:

 "Together with our customers, we also want to play a pioneering role in sustainable logistics in Finland. To reduce CO2 emissions, such an investment in electric transportation is essential for us. In Finland, parcel transportation accounts for a large proportion of pick-up and delivery traffic. The current eCanter is the ideal vehicle for this application. And the deployment of the two vehicles in northern Finland with its extreme weather conditions is a unique opportunity for us, basically an ultimate test."

DB SCHENKER was one of the first eCanter customers in Europe and introduced the predecessor of the current eCanter model into its fleets in Germany, France, and other European countries several years ago, starting in Berlin in 2018. Today, 52 FUSO eCanter (the current model and its predecessor) operate for DB SCHENKER in Europe.

About the eCanter

The eCanter is the Japanese market’s first series-produced, all-electric truck developed by MFTBC as a solution to urban environmental issues such as noise, exhaust gas, and CO2 emissions. As the eCanter is locally emission-free with its electric motor and produces less noise and vibration compared to conventional diesel-powered vehicles, it is particularly suited to inner-city routes as well as operations during late night and early morning hours. After the launch of the first model in 2017, MFTBC released an improved model with enhanced safety equipment in August 2020. Since its launch, the truck has been chosen by customers in Japan, Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In March 2023, MFTBC opened orders for the fully remodeled eCanter with a significantly expanded number of variants to cater to diverse business needs. The new model is also scheduled to be rolled out in additional overseas markets.   

MFTBC at a Glance

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, with 89.29% of its shares owned by Daimler Truck AG and 10.71% by various Mitsubishi group companies. An icon in the Japanese commercial vehicle industry with a longstanding history of over 90 years with its FUSO brand, MFTBC manufactures a range of commercial vehicles including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses, and industrial engines for over 170 markets worldwide. In 2017, MFTBC introduced the eCanter, the first all-electric light-duty truck in series-production and in 2019, the Super Great – Japan’s first heavy-duty truck fitted with Level 2 Automated Driving Support Technology, a benchmark in the Japanese commercial vehicle market. MFTBC operates under the umbrella of Daimler Truck Asia, together with its partner organization Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) in India. This strategic unit allows the entities to collaborate on areas such as product development, parts sourcing and production to provide the best value to customers.

FUSO at a Glance

FUSO is a Daimler Truck brand, offering a range of commercial vehicles from light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses, to industrial engines and connectivity solutions for over 170 markets worldwide. A longstanding landmark in Japan’s commercial vehicle landscape, the brand has leveraged Japanese quality and craftsmanship to set benchmarks in efficiency, safety, and comfort for 90 years. FUSO is particularly renowned for its offerings in the light-duty segment. The Canter light-duty truck claims the top market share in various markets around the world. In 2017 the eCanter became the first series produced all-electric light-duty truck in Japan, establishing FUSO as a pioneer in eMobility. FUSO promises customers a “Future Together,” a bold claim that continues to drive the brand’s contributions to safe and sustainable transport.