Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. on Monday, July 9, announced delivery of two of its all-electric MT E-Cell walk-in vans to UPS. The pickup-and-delivery company will deploy the zero-fuel-usage zero-emissions vehicles in its fleet serving Laguna Hills, Calif.
“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.”
Built on FCCC’s MT-45 chassis, the MT E-Cell combines advances in body and drivetrain technology with the productivity advantages of a traditional walk-in van.
“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.”
FCCC said an all-electric single-speed drive motor, powered by lithium-ion batteries offering 55.5 kilowatt hours of usable energy, provides the MT E-Cell with a driving range of up to 90 miles per charge. The system recharges through a standard 30-amp 220V outlet and requires six to eight hours to fully recharge from a completely discharged state.
FCCC said further efficiency is achieved through the MT E-Cell’s lightweight Morgan Olson body. Constructed with high-strength fully recyclable composite panels and an all-aluminum floor, the MT E-Cell body boasts a 700-cubic-foot capacity. Aerodynamic front-end styling includes a one-piece bonded windshield that helps increase visibility, an integrated wiper and cowl design and a soft bumper cover.
Additionally, the MT E-Cell features a finished cockpit design including an integrated HVAC system, dash messaging system and automotive interior trim panels. As a member of the MT-45 chassis family, the MT E-Cell carries a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 15,000 pounds.
“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. UPS also operates FCCC hybrid-electric chassis, compressed natural gas chassis, gasoline chassis and MT-45 and MT-55 clean diesel chassis.
