Ausgrid is introducing its first ever heavy electric vehicles as part of its push to build knowledge, accelerate network capability and help enable EV adoption for the business fleets of the future.
Ausgrid CEO Marc England said the two new Foton EV Tippers and one SEA Electric Flatbed Truck would help Ausgrid learn how to better enable other businesses to electrify their fleets.
“As a key enabler of electrification, Ausgrid needs to understand what infrastructure is required to get many more EV trucks on the road,” Mr England said.
“Ausgrid needs to facilitate this shift towards EV adoption and a net-zero future but do it in a way that is fully supported by the electricity grid.
“Ultimately, we want to ensure that any individual or company wanting to go electric, no matter how complex their fleet needs, is able to do so.”
Already leading the industry with its EV fleet, the two new Foton EV Tippers and one SEA Electric Flatbed Truck are the latest step in Ausgrid’s goal to electrify 900 Ausgrid vans, cars and trucks by 2029.
NSW has the largest number of EVs on the road in Australia. In the past year, the number of NSW EV drivers doubled to around 12,000.
Head of Supply Chain and Fleet at Ausgrid Tim Kynoch said the inclusion of the larger electric vehicles to the fleet is part of an electrification plan.
“As these are our first electric heavy vehicles, we had to ensure they had the capacity and range to do what we and our customers needed them to do,” Mr Kynoch said.
“Ausgrid is committed to remaining at the forefront of electric vehicle technology.”
The use of the three trucks will reduce Ausgrid’s diesel consumption by 10,000 litres per year and contribute to its net-zero goals.
For more information on how Ausgrid is supporting the electric vehicle transition visit ausgrid.com.au/Connections/Electric-Vehicles.
