Record electric truck haul aims to drive down emissions
Australia's largest fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks will drive down emissions on roads across Queensland, Victoria and South Australia after a record-breaking order from one of the nation's biggest transport firms.
Linfox announced plans to purchase 30 electric prime movers from the Volvo Group on Thursday, following two trials of smaller electric trucks.
While 10 of the large vehicles were delivered to Linfox's Brisbane headquarters, Volvo representatives said the order would accelerate its plans to manufacture electric trucks in Australia.
The announcement also comes after several electric truck investments co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and changes to laws in some states allowing the larger and heavier vehicles on Australian roads.
Linfox's heavy-duty electric truck order had the potential to challenge other firms to make similar commitments, Volvo Group Australia president Martin Merrick said, as well as addressing skepticism about zero-emissions transport.
"This is a really bold step that will give other companies the confidence to do this," he told AAP.
"We have around 90 battery electric trucks running around Australia today operating successfully and they've covered over 1.1 million kilometres collectively so they're doing the job that people thought they couldn't do."
The prime movers were expected to cover between 250 and 300 kilometres per day, Mr Merrick said, and recharge at Linfox bases overnight.
Rising demand as well as changes to state laws to allow large electric trucks on roads meant the company could speed up the development of local manufacturing, Volvo Trucks global president Roger Alm said.
Ten of the 30 electric trucks ordered would be made at the company's Brisbane facility, starting from next year rather than 2027 as planned.
"We have been moving with the market and we see battery electric truck demand has increased," Mr Alm said.
"We have eight models in production at factories around the world and we will be adding another factory with Wacol next year."
Other companies deploying electric trucks in Australia include Team Global Express, which has invested in 60 vehicles, and logistics provider ANC that purchased 112 electric trucks.
Linfox's announcement also coincides with the opening of the Brisbane Truck Show, expected to draw more than 40,000 visitors over four days and display several low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
Hyundai will show off both hydrogen and electric trucks at the event and Dutch firm DAF will showcase its XB Electric truck designed for urban deliveries.
Changing from diesel to electric trucks could significantly cut Australian emissions as freight transport represents 40 per cent of all transport pollution, according to estimates from the Climateworks Centre, and seven per cent of the nation's total carbon emissions.
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