The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $20.1 million funding to Team Global Express (Global Express) for the ‘Depot of the Future’ project to place battery electric vehicles within its logistics and transport operations, as per PV Magazine.
Global Express will deploy 60 battery-electric delivery vehicles and related charging infrastructure in its ‘Express Parcels’ fleet at the western Sydney depot in Bungarribee.
Global Express’ transportation and logistics operation span across New Zealand and Australia, with over 13,000 delivery vehicles in its fleet.
Global Express’ decarbonization strategy
The project plays a key role in Global Express’ decarbonization strategy and will have one-third of its western Sydney fleet shift to BEVs and run under a ‘back-to-base’ model, with the trucks running from distribution centers to consumers in urban areas, before returning to the depot for charging.
The project is anticipated to generate significant insights into the effect on delivery routing, fleet management, and infrastructure requirements once a large fleet electrifies a material part of its operations.
Million-dollar project to include 60 deliver EVs & associated infrastructure
The $44.3 million project includes purchasing and operating 24 Daimler Fuso eCanters, 36 Volvo eFLs, and the related charging and site infrastructure to allow vehicle integration into the depot.
Volvo is first out with heavy electric trucks in Australia, and we are excited to work together with Team Global Express and other customers. We have the broadest electric truck line up in the industry, which makes it possible to electrify a large part of heavy transports already today.
Volvo Group Australia President Martin Merrick
Volvo FL Electric
The Volvo FL Electric packs a 300 km (186.4 miles) range and is powered with a capacity between 200 and 395 kWh battery packs. Furthermore, the truck’s 5.5 tonnes load capacity will help the vehicles get their footing as a metropolitan pick-up and delivery fleet, according to Teslarati.
Similarly, Volvo also received orders from companies in various markets. In North America, the automaker has truck deals with Amazon, McDonald’s, Maersk-owned Performance Team, and others.
EV fleet to help address barriers to adoption
We’re excited to be working with Global Express in switching a significant portion of its fleet to electric vehicles at its Bungarribee depot. We expect the project will provide valuable insights into the costs and operational aspects of transitioning its wider fleet to zero-emissions vehicles.
ARENA Chief Executive Darren Miller
Miller added that operating a battery electric heavy vehicle fleet will aid in addressing some key barriers to adoption, which include overcoming higher upfront costs and uncertainty of placing EVs into existing operations.
He says that understanding these barriers will aid in building market confidence around electric vehicle technology and prove that the heavy EV transition is possible.
I am proud Team Global Express was chosen after an extensive process was undertaken by ARENA, throughout which they have been incredibly supportive. Today’s announcement is a major milestone for our people and our customers. This trial will help to reduce our scope 1 emissions profile, and that of our customers, and give our valued employees at Bungarribee the opportunity to be trained on charging, driving, and optimizing the electric vehicles of the future.
Christine Holgate, Group CEO of Team Global Express
She stated that Team Global Express and their shareholders Allegro would contribute $24.2 million to the ground-breaking project.
As Australia’s largest logistics EV fleet, Team Global Express will be in a position to share knowledge with industry partners, government, and manufacturers, to help all stakeholders for a greener future in logistics.
Holgate added that as a part of the trial, the two would be working together to share knowledge and look forward to offering vital information for the transport and logistics sector’s benefit.
ARENA’s $100 million commitment to the transport sector
Notably, ARENA has committed more than $100 million to the transport sector since 2016, which includes fast-charging networks, hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and home-smart charging trials.
ARENA-funded projects progressively built an understanding of primary issues and helped to address barriers.
Furthermore, decarbonization of land transport is a priority for ARENA, with the Australian government’s Driving the Nation program helping the industry and customers take the steps required to see Australia’s transport emissions lower in line with international commitments.
