Hybrid Canters on

The Canter Eco Hybrid could well be a taste of the future in light trucks. And this is no experimental test bed or concept vehicle; it's a production truck that is now on the market in Japan and is being considered for other countries, especially where cities are wanting to slash exhaust emissions.

It has a newly developed small diesel engine – a three-litre unit with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and with turbocharger and intercooler.

It delivers 92kW of power at 3200rpm and 294Nm of torque at 1700rpm. It has a new diesel particulate filter and an exhaust gas recirculation system for minimising nitrogen oxide emissions.

It shares duty in powering the truck with a compact electric motor-generator which generates 35kW of power.

It's a parallel hybrid system which means that the power to drive the truck comes from the electric motor, the diesel engine or both depending on conditions.

The electric motor drives the Eco Hybrid when starting off. Under hard acceleration, the diesel engine and the electric motor power the truck. When cruising, the vehicle is driven by the diesel engine only.

When the truck is slowing or braking, the electric motor doubles as a generator, converting brake energy into electric energy. This is stored in latest development lithium-ion batteries – ready for the next acceleration.

Mitsubishi Fuso says regeneration of braking energy is improved by disengaging the clutch during deceleration. An idling stop-and-start system automatically shuts down the diesel engine when the transmission is shifted to neutral.

DaimlerChrysler owns 85 per cent of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation and says MFTBC in Japan is its "global competence centre for hybrid technology."

SMALL TORQUE

Benz record

MERCEDES-BENZ light commercial vehicles are selling more than 4 per cent greater than last year, which was a record year for it. "The Vito is an extremely versatile, reliable and appealing light commercial vehicle," says Campbell York. "Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles were first introduced into Australia in 1998 and since then the expansion of our dealer networks has ensured that the sales success of the Vito and Sprinter has continued."

Limited Vito

THE silver limited-edition Vito has been restricted to 175 vans now on sale.

Boss man

CARLO Beltrame is new general manager of trucks for DaimlerChrysler Commercial vehicles. He has national sales and marketing responsibility for Freightliner, Sterling and Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks in Australia. Mr Beltrame, 54, was general manager of DAF Trucks Australia and previously worked with Ford Australia.