Blacktown City Council has introduced what is believed to be Australia’s first fully electric beavertail truck, delivering a practical example of how electrification can be applied to specialised heavy fleet operations. The vehicle, nicknamed “Cleopatra”, has been developed to improve the transport of heavy mowing and agricultural equipment across the council’s extensive network of parks, sporting fields and community spaces.
Built on a fully electric Volvo FE Electric chassis, the truck features a purpose-designed loading platform engineered specifically for the equipment used by council maintenance teams. The project forms part of Blacktown City Council’s broader pathway towards a Net Zero fleet while also improving operational efficiency and safety for frontline staff.
Designing a truck to solve a real operational problem
Blacktown City Council manages almost 250 square kilometres of urban and open space. Maintaining these areas requires the frequent movement of large mowing equipment and tractors between sites.
Historically this work relied on diesel transport trucks. These vehicles created noise and emissions in parks and residential areas and often required multiple trips to move equipment between locations. The geometry of many mowers and tractors also made them difficult to load using standard ramp designs, increasing the risk of underbody damage and creating safety challenges for operators.
To address these issues, council engineers developed a custom transport solution built around an electric truck platform and a purpose-designed beavertail body. The design was developed using digital engineering tools including 3D spatial modelling, kinematic load-path simulation and finite element analysis to optimise ramp geometry and load distribution.
Engineering innovation inside the fleet team
Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf truck body, Blacktown City Council led the design process internally to ensure the vehicle matched its operational requirements.
The ramp design specifically addresses shallow approach angles common with large mowing equipment. By redesigning the deck and ramp configuration, engineers were able to eliminate underbody strike risks and create safer loading conditions for operators. Additional features include anti-slip surfaces, improved ramp controls and a solar-assisted auxiliary energy system that powers the hydraulic tail mechanism without relying solely on the vehicle’s traction battery.
The solar system uses photovoltaic panels to charge a separate battery that operates the hydraulic equipment, improving overall energy efficiency during daily operations.
Operational and environmental benefits
Since entering service in late 2024, the electric beavertail truck has delivered measurable operational improvements.
The vehicle allows multiple pieces of equipment to be transported in a single trip, reducing the need for multiple diesel vehicles and improving the productivity of maintenance crews. Fleet data shows the truck has replaced diesel vehicles that previously travelled more than 74,000 kilometres each year.
The change is also delivering financial and environmental benefits. Annual diesel savings are estimated at around $13,000, while the electric drivetrain reduces maintenance requirements compared with conventional diesel engines.
Importantly for council operations in community areas, the truck operates with zero tailpipe emissions and significantly lower noise levels when moving equipment through parks and residential streets.
A blueprint for future heavy fleet electrification
The Cleopatra project highlights how local governments can combine engineering capability with fleet electrification to solve operational challenges.
By leading the design process internally and using digital modelling tools to validate the concept before construction, Blacktown City Council was able to create a specialised vehicle tailored to its operational environment. Early engagement with operators also ensured the final design addressed real-world loading and safety requirements.
For other fleet managers considering the transition to zero-emission heavy vehicles, the project demonstrates that electrification is not limited to passenger vehicles or light commercials. With the right engineering approach, electric platforms can also support specialised operational tasks while improving safety, productivity and environmental outcomes.
Cleopatra now provides a scalable model for future zero-emission heavy fleet projects and shows how innovation within a council fleet team can deliver practical benefits for operations, staff and the community.
The case study was shared at the 2026 IPWEA Fleet Conference in Melbourne.
- City of Parramatta named finalist in 2026 Fleet Sustainability Award
The City of Parramatta has been named a finalist in the 2026 Fleet News Group Fleet Sustainability Award, with judges recognising its structured and practical approach to fleet electrification and the strong commercial outcomes being delivered alongside emissions reduction. The Fleet Sustainability Award recognises organisations demonstrating that environmental improvement can be integrated into effective fleet - JAC Gives Hunter PHEV an Aussie TuneJAC Motors has put Australian engineering at the centre of the launch of its new Hunter PHEV, confirming that every production vehicle sold locally will receive the complete suspension and vehicle dynamics tune developed during an extensive Australian testing program. The company says it has invested several million dollars beyond its standard product development costs
- Blacktown City Council named finalist in 2026 Fleet Sustainability AwardBlacktown City Council has been named a finalist in the 2026 Fleet News Group Fleet Sustainability Award after impressing the judges with a mature sustainability strategy that extends well beyond passenger vehicle electrification. The Fleet Sustainability Award recognises organisations taking a strategic and measurable approach to reducing fleet emissions while continuing to meet operational and
- Why Fleet Depots Should Plan EV Charging Around Energy, Not Charger PowerOne of the first questions fleet managers ask when planning electric vehicle charging is: how much electrical capacity will we need? It sounds straightforward. If a depot installs ten 22kW chargers, it could appear that the site needs more than 200kW of additional capacity. The experience of three Melbourne councils suggests that this can be the
- Wyndham Puts EV Transition Into Council PolicyFor fleet managers, electrification can easily become a series of individual projects — replacing vehicles, installing chargers, upgrading switchboards and finding suitable locations for infrastructure. Wyndham City Council has taken a broader approach by establishing an Electric Vehicle Policy that sets out how EVs will be considered across fleet, planning, public charging and community infrastructure.
