Team Global Express has taken delivery of 43 Volvo and Fuso electric trucks of a planned fleet of 60. Photo: Team Global Express.
Australian package delivery company Team Global Express has taken delivery of 43 electric trucks for its Sydney-based operations.
The Volvo FL Electric trucks and Daimler Fuso eCanters are the first of an initial fleet of 60 electric trucks purchased by the company with the assistance of a $20.1 million grant from the Federal Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The trucks will replace a third of the company’s Sydney-based fleet at its Bungarribee depot in the city’s west. The depot has also been upgraded with advanced EV-charging infrastructure powered by a 1 MW battery storage system that uses 400 kW of energy from onsite solar panels.
The company’s drivers have also received training to use the electric trucks, and the lessons learnt from the project will be shared across the trucking industry to help build up capability and scale the country’s electric heavy-vehicle fleet.
The $20.1m ARENA grant is part of the government’s Driving the Nation Fund, through which it has invested $130m in EV fleets and cheaper and cleaner transport, and which it says is also helping to build a nationwide EV fast-charging network to link Australia’s cities and regions.
The investment in Team Global Express’s electric fleet was announced in late 2022 by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.
Team Global Express Group CEO Christine Holgate said transport accounted for 19 per cent of all emissions in Australia and the trial represented an important step towards addressing the emissions intensity of the sector.
“Team Global Express is proud to roll out an electric-vehicle trial of this scale and support our industry and country’s renewable energy transition ambitions,” she said.
“As part of our partnership with ARENA, we will be sharing the knowledge we gain from the trial with other industry providers to benefit the entire sector.
“At the time of placing our order with Volvo, we held the record for the largest order of medium-duty electric vehicles the company had received globally.
“We are thrilled that these trucks are on Sydney roads delivering parcels directly to residential and commercial customers.”
Team Global Express’s Bungarribee depot has been upgraded to support the electric truck fleet. Photo: Facebook.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia already had thousands of electric buses and electric cars on the road.
“This Australian-first project will help modernise our truck fleet, cut down on emissions, save fuel costs and reduce air pollution,” he said.
“This also delivers on our election commitment through the Driving the Nation Fund into cutting transport emissions and rolling out charging infrastructure across Australia.
“We pride ourselves on working with companies like Team Global Express and Volvo to seize the opportunities that come with embracing electric heavy vehicles.”
Minister Bowen said the new acquisitions would not just be the cleanest and quietest delivery trucks on Sydney’s streets, they would be the cheapest to run, including maintenance, a huge expense for any logistics business.
“With these trucks reducing noise, air pollution and running costs, the Albanese Government is proud to be delivering on solutions that are good for western Sydney and the broader climate and economy,” he said.
Volvo’s Global CEO Martin Lundstedt was on hand at the Bungarribee depot for the unveiling, and said it was a privilege to witness the project come to life.
“Partnerships like the one we have with Team Global Express are vital as the world continues on its zero-emissions journey,” he said.
“I congratulate all involved for their dedication towards making our cities a better place to live and for taking a positive step towards the future of our planet.”
