EnergyAustralia backs heavy transport shift to “clean” electric

EnergyAustralia says it will support the transition to heavy vehicle electrification by working with large transport and bus operators to plan and build charging infrastructure hubs, powered by renewables.

In a statement on Tuesday, the big-three energy gen-tailer said it was partnering with fleet to develop depot charging solutions as truck and bus fleets make the shift from diesel to electric.

EnergyAustralia says this will include helping with depot development, grid connections, sourcing renewable energy, and energy management strategies.

“For heavy vehicle and bus operators… this transition is not just about buying electric, they need to plan for the infrastructure to charge their fleet,” EnergyAustralia managing director Mark Collette said.

a big part of this planning, Collette says, is to ensure the energy used in depot charging is clean.

“We are also working to ensure the energy used in depot changing facilities is clean through the development of grid-scale batteries and pumped hydro projects to support the transition to renewables,” he said.

“The heavy vehicle industry is transitioning and electric vehicles are a major part of the future fleet equation,” Todd Hacking, CEO of Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia said.

“Industry needs to work with partners on a holistic solution if the transition is to be smooth and successful.”

The Electric Vehicle Council and the Australian Trucking Association earlier this year collaborated to develop policies they claim are necessary to drive the electrification of Australian trucking sector.

They said electrification would assist trucking businesses and supply chains by ending volatile diesel costs, reducing maintenance costs, improving urban efficiency, and delivering better conditions for truck drivers, noting Australia lags most of the world in the electrification of trucks making the need for reform urgent.

Joint key recommendations included exempting electric trucks from urban curfews, changing Australian weight and width limits to accommodate batteries, and exempting electric trucks form stamp duty.

As reported by The Driven, the Climate of the Nation 2021 report shows that three in four Australians support fully electrifying state bus fleets by 2030.