Automotive

Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy

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Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
The Fuso track range
Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
Fuso's second-generation Canter Hybrid gets 25% better fuel economy
The second-generation Canter Hybrid was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year and has been on sale in Japan for several months
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Mercedes Benz took control of the 80-year-old Fuso brand name eight years ago when it upped its 43 percent share of the company to more than 80 percent. Today, Daimler's shareholding is a tad less than 90 percent, with Mitsubishi holding the remainder, though the Mitsubishi logo still retains a prominent position within the Fuso logo.

Most significantly, the Japanese-based truck and bus company is progressing rapidly with a recent commitment to become the world leader in fuel consumption and emission reduction in the truck and bus marketplace.

Aiming at a moving target in this massively competitive field is a difficult task, but with the release of the second-generation EcoHybrid Fuso Canter into the European marketplace, Fuso appears to have begun fulfilling its goals.

The new EcoHybrid Fuso Canter has a 7.5-tonne gross vehicle weight and is aimed at city usage where real world trials in the United Kingdom with companies such as DHL, Tesco, TNT and Royal Mail have demonstrated fuel savings of up to 16 percent compared with the diesel-engined Canters, with a similar lowering of CO2 emissions.

The second-generation Canter Hybrid was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year and has been on sale in Japan for several months

Those trials began in 2008 and were based on the previous TD model Canter, fitted with a variety of body types and daily workloads, and subsequent improvements in the second generation hybrid indicate owners can expect a reduction of 24 percent compared with a similar non-hybrid model.

The reduction in consumption looks likely to significantly reduce running costs of the new Canter, given that the Fuso Repair & Maintenance contract prices are identical to a standard, diesel-engined Canter.

The EcoHybrid uses a Euro V-compliant 110 kW (150 PS) diesel engine which operates in parallel with a 40 kW electric motor. It's also equipped with the latest DUONIC transmission, an automated version of a dual-clutch manual gearbox for light trucks, plus a fuel-saving Start-Stop system.

The EcoHybrid will be sold and supported by the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle dealer network, the batteries have a ten year guaranteed lifetime, with the rest of the vehicle having a three year unlimited mileage warranty.

The Fuso Canter was first released in Japan in 1963 and is now in its seventh generation.

View gallery - 7 images
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6 comments
zekegri
Make a camper van version! A diesel hybrid camper would sell millions in the US-hello world! Add regenerative shocks and solar on the rooftop for cooling and accessories. Pop-up wind turbine for when parked on a mountaintop or any breezy day.The ones that make water as well would be nice. Regen going down hills not just braking. Come on auto makers we are waiting for real innovations. Mileage with power is the main one.
The Hoff
What other intelligent progressive innovations are out there waiting for an economic stimulus?
Daishi
@zekegri not sure if kidding but box trucks make sense for a hybrid drive train because they are so stop and go. The inspector gadget rooftop wind turbine for for parking at the tops of mountains is probably on the feature list for version 8 maybe.
Slowburn
How much does the fuel have to cost for a ten year break even? How badly do the batteries have to degrade for warranty replacement?
holdenmidfield
As usual, Slowburn comes to the rescue of the status quo. No idea involving innovation or renewable energy will ever be good enough for the champion of more pollution and out of date technology. Watch out, the future is coming to get us…RUN!
Slowburn
re; fleming
Storing electricity is an extremely expensive way of doing it. Give me an energy recycling system that is not dependent on rare earth elements and I'll be all for it.