Hybrids hit the road

Ten diesel-electric hybrid Mitsubishi Fuso Canters have entered service with big-name UK operators, as part of a three-year trial to test the water before a full-scale national product launch.

The Canter Eco-Hybrids, six of which were on display at the CV Show, are all working in London.

The operators taking part in the trial were chosen to reflect a cross-section of real-world applications. They are supermarket chain Tesco; parcel carriers Royal Mail, DHL and TNT; highway maintenance contractors Ringway Group and Amey plc; utility provider Scottish & Southern Energy; and stationery distributor office2office.

Mitsubishi Fuso Manager Mike Mudie, says: "We know the technology works, because hybrid Canters have been operating successfully in Japan for the last two years. But there's a lot of careful evaluation to be done before we decide whether the product is right for the UK.

"The results will be reviewed every quarter and at the end of the trial we'll take a decision."

The 7.5-tonne trial vehicles have 3.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines, generating 145hp, and 35-kilowatt electric motors. Together these provide power and performance on a par with the 5.0-litre, 180hp diesel engine.

The vehicle switches between diesel and electric power automatically, depending on driving conditions - moving off happens under electric power alone, hard acceleration sees both power units work in unison, high-speed cruising uses the diesel engine only. Under braking, excess energy is 'captured' and stored in the vehicle's batteries.

Even with its lithium-ion batteries on board, the model still retains a body/payload allowance of 3,600kg, and in operation drivers will notice little or no difference between the hybrid vehicle and its diesel-powered counterpart.