Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) has delivered two all-electric MT E-Cell walk-in vans to package delivery giant UPS. The vans are zero emissions vehicles and will serve the Laguna Hills, CA, area.
“As an early developer of all-electric vehicle chassis technology, FCCC remains committed to engineering products that help companies meet their environmental goals,” said Mike Stark, FCCC senior technical sales manager, national accounts. “UPS’s addition of the MT E-Cell to its fleet is a powerful validation of both the technology and this vehicle’s reliability and durability in the most demanding real-world applications.”
The van, built on FCCC’s MT-45 chassis, is powered by an all-electric single speed drive motor powered by lithium-ion batteries offering 55.5 kilowatt hours of usable energy. Driving range is expected to reach 90 mi. per charge. Fully recharging the vehicle takes six to eight hours through a 30-amp, 220-volt outlet.
“After promising results with the prototype all-electric vehicle, we are looking forward to getting similar production with these vehicles making real deliveries to our customers every day,” said Mike Britt, UPS’s director of maintenance and engineering international operations ground fleet. “Continuing to invest in fuel-efficient technology is a part of our overall environmental strategy.”
The van’s body, manufactured by Morgan Olson, is made of high-strength, fully recyclable composite panels and an all-aluminum floor. It is 500 lbs. lighter than a conventional walk-in van body, said FCCC, but still boasts a 700 cu. ft. capacity that ranks it among the largest all-electric vehicles on the road. Aerodynamic front-end styling includes a one-piece bonded windshield that increases visibility, an integrated wiper and cowl design, and a soft bumper cover.
The cockpit design including an integrated HVAC system, dash messaging system and automotive interior trim panels.
The E-Cell has a GVWR of 15,000 lbs.
“The MT E-Cell is ideal for fleets with set routes in pickup and delivery applications, and is capable of making up to 200 stops a day,” said Gordie Taylor, FCCC commercial chassis product manager. “And as a walk-in van, it maintains clear advantages over standard box trucks.”
