Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) and Penske Truck Leasing recently commemorated the delivery of two MT50e all-electric walk-in van units for use in California.

Penske Truck Leasing delivered one MT50e unit each to two California-based end-user customers in the healthcare field. 

By offering a fully-electric chassis that meets the demands of last-mile delivery without sacrificing power and performance, the MT50e has proven ideal for these specific end-uses. The units are also essential for both companies as they work to lower their fleet emissions over the next several years.

“The more MT50e units we deliver to customers, the more we hear about how well they are performing and proving themselves to the rigorous demands of fleets,” said Michael Stark, EV program manager with FCCC. “As electrification continues to grow in prominence in this market segment, partners like Penske Truck Leasing expect a proven product they can trust – from a partner with robust experience in alternative fuels and energy. The MT50e offers an impressive array of features and benefits that help make it such an appealing fleet addition.”

Penske Working Toward a Greener, Cleaner Future

Penske has been an early adopter of battery-electric commercial vehicles, including Freightliner’s eCascadia battery-electric tractor truck, and has invested in testing, maintaining, and building out charging infrastructure to support these vehicles. The company has been testing in real-world conditions across its leasing, rental, and logistics fleets in a variety of industries including:

• Retail

• Manufacturing.

• Grocery.

• Quick-service restaurant chains.

• Medical.

• More.

“We are very pleased to add the FCCC MT50e to our growing portfolio of all-electric vehicles,” said Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning for Penske Truck Leasing. “It has proven to be a quality medium-duty addition to our customers’ operations in California.”

The Power Behind the FCCC Medium-Duty Truck

Powered by an exclusive battery system from Proterra, the MT50e features a GVWR of up to 23,000 lbs., a range of approximately 170 miles or more on a single charge, and a streamlined, integrated design with no reduction in cargo capacity. 

FCCC notes the MT50e is backed by a solid warranty, the largest national service network, and is 50-state EPA and CARB certified. Additional features and highlights of the MT50e include:

• Engine power of up to 226 kWh=303 HP.

• Full battery charge in three hours.

• Eight-year standard warranty.

• Hill-start assist.

• Single-piece steel straight-frame rails and rugged dogbone cross members to minimize body stress while maximizing heavy-duty load capacity.

• 50-degree wheel cut for tighter turn radius and unmatched maneuverability.

• Traction and stability control.

• Premium four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

• Nationwide access to the Detroit eFill charging network.

According to a release, the MT50e also optimizes driver safety and ease of operation through its standard OptiView fully integrated all-digital gauge display and DriveTech driver controls.

DriveTech puts every command in one easy-to-reach location, while OptiView provides real-time efficiency feedback and state-of-the-art tools like 360-degree cameras and clear navigation.