Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has celebrated the start of series production of the Fuso eCanter – the world’s first all‑electric light-duty truck: aimed at zero-emission and zero-noise urban distribution – in Tramagal, Portgual.

The eCanter has an operational range of 100km and a load capacity of between two and three tonnes, depending on the body and usage.

In customer trials with the pre-series model in Portugal and Germany between 2014 and 2017, the eCanter delivered operating cost savings up to $1,175 per 10,000km, compared with a conventional diesel truck.

The electric Canter is being produced on the same assembly lines as the conventional Fuso Canter light-duty truck, with only modest modifications for the assembly and installation of the electric-powertrain components.

Marc Llistosella, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso and head of Daimler Trucks Asia, said: “With the eCanter, we become the first global manufacturer to produce an all-electric truck in series. From now on we can address the growing demand for emission-free delivery trucks in cities.”

Mitsubishi Fuso will hand over the first customer orders of the eCanter to a customer in New York, USA in September, while Japanese convenience store 7-Eleven has ordered a fleet of 25 units, to be delivered by the end of 2017.

Series production of the Fuso eCanter for Europe and the USA is taking place at the Mitsubishi Fuso plant in Tramagal, near Lisbon, Portugal, while Asian markets will be served by Mitsubishi Fuso's main plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

The vehicle’s six high-voltage lithium ion battery packs, which deliver 420V and 13.8kWh each, will come from Daimler subsidiary Accumotive in Kamenz, Germany.

Fuso has a long history in alternative drivetrains for trucks, beginning series production of the Canter Eco Hybrid in 2006, and its second generation in 2012.

Fuso presented the first prototype of a fully electric Canter at the IAA Hannover exhibition in 2010, leading to pre-series production for testing purposes in 2014.