Volvo Group has unveiled Australia’s first zero-emissions battery electric truck, supplied to the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), at the Australasian Fire and Authorities (AFAC) conference, the region’s largest emergency management conference and exhibition.
ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman MLA; Acting Commissioner of the ESA, Jason Jones; ACT Fire & Rescue Chief Officer, Matthew Mavity; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden, Mr. Per Linnér, and guests joined Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick, in the handover of the inaugural e-vehicle.
The purchase is a significant milestone in the partnership established between Volvo Group Australia and the ESA in July 2022.
The vehicle is a Volvo FL Electric, a solid and nimble truck designed for urban and city environments. With a superstructure designed and made in New Zealand, the FL Electric will be used for important tasks including operational support for Fire & Rescue teams.
Minister Gentleman said, “This is a significant milestone for the ACT. Transitioning emergency services operational support vehicles to zero emissions vehicles is a crucial step to achieving our government’s nation-leading target of net zero emissions by 2045.”
The Acting ESA Commissioner Jason Jones said, “The delivery of this co-designed vehicle is a significant step in our journey to lowering emissions within our emergency services fleet. As we transition our fleet, we are excited to not only improve our environmental footprint but improve safety and well-being for our staff and volunteers. I would like to recognise and thank the project team including firefighters from ACT Fire & Rescue who together demonstrated leadership and innovation in the design and delivery in this vehicle”.
Martin Merrick, President of Volvo Group Australia, said, “Transport accounts for 19% of Australia’s carbon emissions, and 38% of that is from road vehicles. With this project, government and the emergency services are leading by example in moving to net-zero vehicles. Early adopters like the ESA and ACT Government should be commended and Volvo is proud to be supporting their work to shape a more sustainable world.”
Following initial Volvo driver development training and vehicle implementation processes, this first vehicle is expected to go into operational service in and around the ACT in early 2024.
Volvo Group Australia has been manufacturing trucks in Australia for 50 years and with the enabling regulatory settings is committed to manufacturing its range of FM and FH heavy-duty electric vehicles at its Wacol production facility as early as 2027.
