Trucks

First Australian customer delivery of Volvo FE Electric

Volvo Trucks Australia has just delivered the first Volvo Electric truck sold down under to global logistics giant Geodis.
First Australian customer delivery of Volvo FE Electric

The 6x2 FE Electric will be put to work transporting parts from Geodis’s Matraville NSW headquarters to Volvo Group Australia’s Minto NSW Parts Distribution Centre on the Southwestern outskirts of Sydney.

With 50kw AC charging at the depot end of the 47-kilometre route, the 10 pallet FE curtainsider will take advantage of opportunity charging while loading during the working day and is capable of hauling a 7 tonne payload.

With four batteries on board the FE Electric offers 265kWh capacity. The FE Electric utilises a 225-kW/850Nm dual-motor driveline and is also backed by a 2-speed automated transmission. Operational range is quoted at up to 220km depending on battery configuration and application.

Energy usage for this route is 69kWh. Utilising 50kW chargers total charge time from 0% to 100% battery is just over 3 hours. By opportunity charging while the truck is loading and unloading, the truck can be driven well in excess of it’s daily work demand.  

Wacol based Volvo Group Regional Logistics Buyer, Jennie Alfredsson first identified the route as being ideal for an electric truck. “We are heavily focused on reducing CO2 emissions from our freight task by 30% per vehicle by 2025, says Alfredsson. She subsequently pitched the idea to Volvo Group Australia’s Vice President Emerging Technology Business Development, Paul Illmer.

“This project has been such a great example of multiple stakeholders working together to take yet another step towards decarbonising our industry one truck at a time, says Illmer.

“As a transport buyer, Jennie has recognised an opportunity to make a difference in our logistics operations as seized it. And as a team we’ve worked together to bring a solution to the table.

“We’ve made no bones about our determination to tackle the decarbonisation challenges along the way, whether that be sourcing green power for our facilities, a solar project utilizing our own building and factories or finding opportunities such as this. 

Geodis Sub- Regional Managing Director- Pacific, Stuart Asplet agrees, GEODIS is a low-carbon transport and logistics solution pioneer, and we continually strive to reduce our carbon footprint and limit polluting emissions. We are delighted to collaborate with Volvo on this path, since we know that our future success will be dependent on sustainable partnerships such as this”.