As the fuel crisis puts trucking companies across the country in dire straits, one has reached a major milestone in EV freight delivery, claiming their efforts could help “unshackle” Australia from its reliance on diesel.
Last week, the first ever all-electric “end-to-end” transport of goods place during a 460km trip between a Sydney warehouse and multiple delivery points in Canberra.
The majority of the trek took place inside an all-electric prime mover, which also recently made a single-charge journey from Sydney’s outer southwest to the Hunter Valley and back.
On Wednesday, the prime mover picked up a bulk load of products from the warehouse of Who Gives a Crap, a sustainable toilet paper company, and arrived in Canberra on a single charge.
The supplies were then distributed among a fleet of fully electric ANC delivery vans which did last-leg deliveries around the capital.
Owned and operated by New Energy Transport (NET), the prime mover will “usher in a new era for Australian road freight”, says NET co-CEO Daniel Bleakley.
“Electric heavy trucks are not just cheaper and faster, they unshackle Australia from volatile global oil markets, dramatically strengthening our supply chain resistance,” Mr Bleakley said.
“Australia must act now and seize this moment to decouple from diesel. Australia’s major transport buyers, including our supermarket chains who depend on diesel-based trucking to deliver food to millions, have a responsibility to accelerate the transition to resilient road freight.
“Governments at all levels also have a major role to play. By co-investing in charging infrastructure and making electric prime movers more affordable through targeted subsidies and incentives, they can catalyse industry adoption and unlock long-term economic, productivity, and energy security benefits for Australia.”
ANC CEO Joe Sofra said the company was “proud” to partner with NET.
“While driven by a shared vision to accelerate zero-emissions transport, this initiative also demonstrates what’s possible in delivering enhanced energy resilience amid ongoing fuel volatility and supply uncertainty,” he said.
Smart Energy Council CEO Josh Grimes said diversifying Australia’s transport supply was key to keeping up with “the pace of change”.
“Australia runs on road freight, so if diesel stops, we stop and starve. Electrifying trucking strengthens our energy security, and we’re ready. We already build electric trucks and charging infrastructure, and can power it all with sun and wind,” he said.
“Every litre of diesel we save on highways by electrifying trucks, is one we keep for farmers.”
NET is currently working to establish a trucking depot near Wilton on the outskirts of southwest Sydney, where a fleet of up to 50 electric prime movers will be stationed with an aim to service freight corridors between Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra.
