From left: TR Group managing director, Andrew Carpenter; Fuso NZ managing director, Kurtis Andrews; and Genesis general manager of LPG and small and medium business, Cameron Jardine.

Electricity and gas company Genesis has added a Fuso eCanter to its fleet, making it the first company in the Southern Hemisphere to do so.

The eCanter will be based at the company?s East Tamaki site and is the first major step towards Genesis increasing the proportion of electric or hybrid vehicles in its 110-strong truck fleet over the coming years.

Genesis worked with Fuso New Zealand, Keith Andrews Trucks, and TR Group to bring the eCanter into service, taking it on as part of a six-year lease agreement through TR Group.

?As this is the first series-produced fully electric truck to hit New Zealand roads we have a lot to learn about how to incorporate electric vehicles into our truck fleet, and what other adjustments we will have to make to get the best out of this new technology,? says Cameron Jardine, Genesis?s General Manager of LPG and Small and Medium Business.

The eCanter has a GVM of 7,490kg, and Genesis expects a range of 100km to 150km between charges in its operation.

?We have committed to removing at least 1.2 million tonnes of annual carbon emissions from our activities over the next five years, and transport-related initiatives will be part of that,? Jardine adds.

New Zealand Trucking was one of two publications invited to view the eCanter earlier this week. Look out for a full story in the August issue of New Zealand Trucking magazine.