Trainee truck technicians get hands-on with Fuso eCanter

Truck technicians of the future are getting real hands-on experience of working with electric vehicles, thanks to Cardiff and Vale College’s decision to buy its own fully-electric battery-powered Fuso eCanter.

Supplied by local dealer Euro Commercials, the eCanter 4C15e has a gross weight of 4.18-tonnes and is fitted with a simple platform body – this reflects the fact that it is not intended for use in a transport application, but to help students prepare for life in workshops where electric vehicles are likely to be increasingly common.

The eCanter is used by the college’s level 2 and 3 heavy vehicle apprenticeship students – most are school leavers who have joined employers on schemes which see them spend four days per week in their workplace, and one on day-release in the classroom, over a period of two or three years.

Courses are taught by heavy vehicle lecturers Lee Whittaker and Ben Young. “It’s no secret that there is a shortage of trained heavy vehicle technicians in the industry so these young people, and the skills they learn, are going to be vital to keep tomorrow’s trucks, buses and coaches running,” said Mr Young.

“We have over 100 students who are on apprenticeships with everyone from haulage operators to local authorities, bus and coach companies, main dealers and even emergency services. In all cases, as well as learning how to work on traditional combustion engines, knowledge of how to maintain electric vehicles safely and effectively is going to be crucial in their future careers.

“Having a vehicle of our own for them to work with on a daily a basis is invaluable to the teaching process. The FUSO eCanter is a model that’s in use in many real-world applications. It’s competitively priced and, importantly, its compact footprint means it doesn’t take up too much workshop space, so it’s ideal for this purpose.”

The College’s eCanter is a 4C15e model with three-seater Comfort cab and 129 kW motor. The S battery pack fitted provides a range of up to 70 km – larger M and L batteries are available, giving ranges of up to 140 and 200 km respectively.

Whittaker added: “Having an electric truck that they can get their hands on is a huge benefit to our students, and to the qualified technicians who come in for course modules to boost the skills they already have.”