Upon arrival in Canberra, the freight was transferred to electric vans for final delivery to customers, ensuring the entire journey was conducted without emissions. Daniel Bleakley, Co-Chief Executive Officer of New Energy Transport, emphasized that this delivery ushers in a new era for Australian road freight, where electric heavy trucks are not just cheaper and faster but also enhance supply chain resilience by reducing dependence on volatile global oil markets.
The Windrose electric truck used in this delivery is equipped with a 700 kWh battery, offering a range of up to 670 km at a combined mass of 49 tonnes and capable of one-hour fast charging. The journey resulted in an 84% reduction in energy costs compared to a diesel prime mover on the same route and was completed 25 minutes faster due to the electric truck's ability to maintain high speeds across all sections, including uphill climbs.
With the transport sector accounting for about 22% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and road freight dominating this share, the transition to electric trucks presents a significant opportunity to reduce emissions. Bleakley urged major transport buyers, including supermarket chains, to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks to enhance supply chain resilience and reduce environmental impact.
New Energy Transport is now working to establish a pilot fleet of heavy electric trucks in Wilton, southwest of Sydney, by mid-2026. This depot is expected to be Australia's largest electric trucking facility, initially housing up to 50 heavy electric prime movers, with plans to expand the fleet to 200 vehicles and extend service routes to connect major cities by 2031. The depot will be powered by a mix of grid electricity and up to 5 MW of on-site solar, with high-powered chargers capable of fully recharging the truck batteries in under an hour.
This initiative demonstrates the commercial viability and operational efficiency of electric heavy vehicles in Australia, setting a precedent for the future of sustainable road freight.
