Earlier this year, Daimler Truck Southern Africa announced plans to launch a comprehensive range of battery-electric trucks, including models from the eCanter to the eActros. The eCanter, a four-ton vehicle, was trialed by national logistics provider City Logistics to assess its suitability as an intra-city transport option.
City Logistics deployed the eCanter from its Gosforth Park depot in Germiston, Johannesburg, testing it on an 80 km round trip to a key customer in Midrand each day.
“We wanted to test the claimed range, as well as the speed to recharge,” said Ryan Gaines, CEO of City Logistics.
The eCanter, with a claimed range of 100 km, provided a 20 km reserve for the planned route. The truck carried a full load on both legs of the journey.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the vehicle’s ability to carry load without draining the battery. Battery percentage usage on the roundtrip journey ranged from 60 to 70%,” noted Gaines. “The truck also charged from 20% back to 100% in just over an hour at the depot using a 50 kWh charger. This provided us with assurances of a decent turnaround time,” he added.
These trials aim to evaluate the performance and infrastructure requirements for battery-electric trucks in South Africa. According to Daimler Truck Southern Africa, once the trials are completed, the eCanter will be offered to local transport operators on an operating lease basis, while the eActros is already available for purchase.
“The launch of the eCanter in South Africa is a massive feat for us. While we know that reaching our ultimate goal of offering 100% CO2-neutral products by 2050 will require various zero-emission technologies, this launch represents the vital first step in building a sustainable future for transportation,” commented Maretha Gerber, president and Group CEO of Daimler Truck Southern Africa.
While the eCanter is new to South Africa, it has been in use on roads overseas for some time. Mitsubishi Fuso first launched the vehicle in 2017, becoming the first global OEM to introduce an all-electric, series-produced light-duty truck.
City Logistics is no stranger to e-mobility. Last year, the company tested the previous generation of the eCanter.
According to Gaines, while electric car sales are slow, the use and demand for electric vehicles in logistics are growing.
“This is driven by the desire for sustainable forms of delivery, an offer that appeals to environmentally conscious South Africans who are motivated by companies that focus on sustainability.”
Local logistics businesses like City Logistics are actively seeking the most efficient light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy vehicles.
“Once the most proficient and cost-effective electric truck has been identified and a reliable charging solution established, we will implement the vehicle on a local or urban route. We are also exploring hybrid or gas vehicles for longer, outlying routes,” Gaines concluded.
After a three-month trial of the eCanter, City Logistics will share the results and assess the viability of incorporating the electric truck into their fleet, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and sustainability in South Africa’s logistics sector.
