Australia’s heavy truck market has reached another important milestone, with 3PL New Energy Transport taking delivery of its first Volvo FH Electric semi truck, and putting it to work immediately in downtown Sydney.

Operating from the Unilever distribution center in Sydney, Australia, the new Volvo VH Electric prime mover semi truck will deliver Unilever products across the Sydney metro area routes, as the company tests the viability of battery electric vehicles in heavy freight. It’s also the first truck put into service under a new Volvo Financial Services arrangement with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) designed to reduce the cost of leasing heavy electric trucks in Australia.

And, for their part, the New Energy Transport execs are excited to put the heavy-duty BEV into service.

“With Unilever on board, we couldn’t have asked for a better foundation customer,” explains Fredrik Pehrsson, Co-CEO, New Energy Transport. “Unilever is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, and its decision to put electric trucks to work in Sydney is an example of real leadership … electric road freight means lower costs, greater reliability and a real cut in emissions, and it’s brands like Unilever that will drive the shift at scale, decarbonizing their supply chains while delivering greater efficiency.”

Good partners

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Volvo and NET executives stand near a truck; by Volvo Trucks.

Volvo executives were excited, too – and were quick to praise their new partners. “What makes this moment significant is that it brings together three things that are essential for the transition ahead: a customer ready to lead, a freight operator ready to invest, and a truck partner with proven technology and support in place,” offered Martin Merrick, CEO and President, Volvo Group Australia. “We are proud that New Energy Transport has chosen Volvo Trucks as part of that journey.”

The Volvo FH Electric offers fleets up to 540 kW (~730 hp) of peak power from its advanced eAxles, which get their electrons from a 360 kWh battery pack (up to 780 kWh are available). That combination is good for up to 400 km (~250 miles) of loaded range and can be recharge from 20% to 80% in about an hour on “just” 350 kW of charging power, enabling the truck to effectively “top off” at stops, between shift changes, or while its trailer is being loaded or un-loaded.

The deployment of the FH Electric forms part of NET’s wider electrification strategy, with plans to deploy 11 more new Volvo electric semi trucks already en route, growing to a fleet of 20 electric trucks (supported by six Volvo PU mobile charging units) by the end of this year.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Trucks.

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