FUSO toasts electric Warburtons deal

Bakery giant Warburtons has added an electric FUSO eCanter to its fleet.

Based at the company’s Bolton site, it is being used to deliver bread to up to 25 shops and supermarkets, predominantly in Greater Manchester.

It forms part of the firm’s secondary fleet of 800 rigid trucks, which undertake local deliveries to customers from 23 locations, and complement its primary fleet of 125 tractor units, which trunk between bakeries overnight. The company’s focus is on volume rather than outright payload.

The 7.5-tonne truck has six 13.8kWh lithium-ion batteries with a total output of 82.8kWh (66kWh usable), which power a 129Kw/180hp permanent-magnet motor via a single-gear transmission in the rear axle. It has a claimed operating range of more than 62 miles on a full charge.

It was fitted with a bespoke body by PPS Commercials of Bury and supplied on a five-year Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire agreement.

“We’re conscious of the increasing prevalence of emissions-based restrictions, particularly in city centres, and appreciate that there’s only one direction of travel,” said Warburtons’ national transport manager, Steve Gray, who added that vehicle range was less of an issue for the company for vehicles tasked with low-mileage local deliveries.

“The limitations on range which remain the biggest barrier to widespread adoption are not necessarily an issue for [us]. This is because many of our trucks are already on low-mileage work.

“Its range is more than adequate for our needs, and it has been well received by our drivers. It’s smaller than a conventional 7.5-tonner and this compact footprint, coupled with an excellent turning circle, is a definite advantage for city-centre work.”