Two vehicle sector leaders – last-mile delivery specialist ANC and leading rental, leasing and fleet management company ORIX Australia Corporation Limited (ORIX) – have joined forces to celebrate World Electric Vehicle Day today, announcing a strategic partnership that’s designed to help ANC achieve zero-carbon last mile delivery. And in celebration, ANC, supported by ORIX, has added a new electric truck, nicknamed ‘BESTe’ to its fleet.
ANC is already on the road to zero-carbon last mile and BESTe, a SEA BEV (battery electric vehicle) pantech truck, will drive that ambition further with its sustainable offering. It boasts an impressive 240km range. It’s also fast-charge ready, thanks to its three-phase charging socket, making it more convenient, and removing the barrier to expensive charging equipment.
BESTe’s first mission for ANC is to deliver for Williams-Sonoma Inc. in Australia. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The company’s products, representing distinct merchandise strategies — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham — are marketed through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores.
BESTe will also help support the sustainability goals of other ANC clients, with the company making the EV truck available on a month-to-month basis to any of its clients keen to act on their goals.
“Customers are thinking more and more about their contribution to a more sustainable future and we’re happy to assist in this way,” says Mo Abbas, ANC Group Executive, Marketing & Strategy.
The addition of BESTe will reinforce ANC’s commitment to breaking down the top four barriers to adoption in the last mile sector:
- data to inform a conversion strategy;
- charging infrastructure;
- cost or capital;
- access to stock.
“World EV Day is the perfect time to introduce BESTe,” Abbas says. “We’re already on the road to zero-carbon last mile thanks to some very strong partnerships – and we’re thrilled that ORIX has such an impressive solution to help us overcome these last-mile barriers.”
ORIX specialises in the rental, acquisition, financing and management of vehicles, including electric ones, and is committed to supporting businesses that are dedicated to decarbonising their fleet.
“We’re excited to support ANC by providing sustainable, integrated fleet solutions for their transport needs,” says ORIX Rental and Mobility General Manager, Grant Harrison. “We recognise our role is to use our expertise to assist clients in identifying solutions that reduce their environmental impact and embed more sustainable practices without compromising their business operations. BESTe is the ideal solution for ANC as it works towards offering a zero-carbon last mile.”
ANC is an early adopter of sustainable practices, with green vehicles in its fleet already sequestering more than 110 tonnes of carbon emissions.
“We have committed to growing this fleet both in size and type as we seek to reimagine the last mile,” Abbas explains. “At ANC we believe this is part of our obligation to enable a more sustainable delivery option. World EV day is a global movement where companies aim to drive change, together. As we’re in the business of delivering, taking action to decarbonise our fleet is very important. This goal benefits everyone, and it’s important to partner with companies such as ORIX to create a greener and more sustainable world for future generations.”
