Mitsubishi Fuso Has Sold More than 500 Hybrid Trucks in Japan
05 March 2009
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has sold more than 500 units of the Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid truck model in Japan to date. Some 250 of the trucks were sold in 2008 alone, a 64% increase from the figure recorded for the prior year.
The trucks have been used mostly in urban settings since their market launch in 2006. The hybrid truck’s fuel efficiency benefits best take effect in stop-and-go traffic and delivery operations for parcel services and wholesalers, for example.
Daimler AG owns 85 percent of MFTBC; the remaining 15 percent is held by various companies within the Mitsubishi Group. MFTBC is part of the Daimler Trucks division of Daimler AG.
The Canter Eco Hybrid has been participating in Europe’s biggest fleet test for hybrid trucks since August 2008, when a total of ten hybrid models were handed over to eight customers in London for use in normal business operations. The three-year test is designed not only to provide new insights into the use of the 7.5-ton hybrid trucks by customers, but also to demonstrate the diesel-electric hybrid drive’s high level of efficiency.
The vehicles being used in the test series have been adapted to European requirements. Their hybrid drive systems consist of an electric motor and the powertrain from the 7.5-ton Fuso Canter series production truck, which meets the Euro 4 emission requirement. The trucks are also equipped with a new measuring system for collecting the necessary test data. All vehicle maintenance is handled by two specialized Mercedes-Benz service centers located in the London metropolitan area.
Haven't read about any truck going full series hybrid yet (aside from the EATON UPS hydraulic vans) which seems like very slow evolution considering trains have been using that layout for 50 years. It's would require quite alot more re-tooling than just adding a large starter motor and a battery as most of these hybrid trucks do.
Posted by: Paul | 05 March 2009 at 04:29 PM