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New Fiat Professional E-Ducato: 100% electric, ready for action
Following an extensive collaboration project with a leading global express delivery corporation and other significant stakeholders, Fiat Professional is ready to introduce the first 100% electric version of its best-selling Ducato light commercial vehicle. Branded the E-Ducato, the development programme to create a high performing, affordable zero-emission large van has taken almost 5 years. The development project incorporated testing of 4,000 connected vehicles that travelled over 50 million kilometres, in all driving, loading and weather conditions. The work was carried out at fast pace, replicating typical customer requirements for different types of delivery and professional tasks, enabling Fiat Professional to identify bespoke solutions from the prototype phase onwards that would be effective in the real world.
‘Fiat Professional chose the 51st Earth Day, (22 April), a worldwide event focused on protecting the environment and sending out the right kind of eco-friendly information and education to launch the E-Ducato.’ Eric Laforge, Head of LCV Enlarged Europe at Stellantis (Fiat Professional parent), commented at the launch that the new E-Ducato is ready for any mission: “For the E-Ducato, we started from the idea of creating not only a “green” vehicle, but also a complete FLEETVAN&UTILITY | SUMMER 2021
mobility solution, characterised by versatility, reliability, efficiency and sustainability (at both an environmental and an economic level): in short, a working tool to build up your business while respecting the precepts of ecology, a model ready for every mission, uncompromisingly aiming to be the benchmark in the market and to be equipped with the same capabilities as vehicles with internal combustion engines. Its 400 configurations mean it can meet the needs of all professional operators, from freight fleets and construction companies to artisans and municipal service providers.”
‘E-Ducato is manufactured at two plants – Sevel (Atessa) & Mirafiori (Turin) with an initial capacity of producing 1,000 units per month’ In the quest for a partner offering the best value, Stellantis began a tight-knit collaboration in 2016 with DHL, a world leader in international freight transport, highly specialised in its field, strongly oriented towards innovation and experiencing real growth as a result of the e-commerce boom. From this partnership came the focus on the E-Ducato, using DHL’s real-world usage as a basis for developing a product that offers practical and sustainable electric mobility. In the words of Alberto Nobis, CEO of DHL
EXPRESS Europe: “We firmly believe that the future of last-mile logistics is electric. To achieve our objective of connecting people and improving their lives, we are committed to becoming greener and cleaner in what we do every single day. By adding E-Ducatos to our fleet, we will take the next big step in reaching our goal of electrifying most of our last-mile delivery by 2030. We’ve found what we were looking for in Fiat Professional: state-of-the-art technology and powerful batteries that will enable us to travel up to 200 km on a single charge, to get to our customers quickly while respecting the environment.” Eric Laforge, stated that the E-Ducato project is a journey towards innovation and the future: “We’re proud that a player as important as DHL
