Centurion Transport has achieved a major milestone in its decarbonisation journey, launching Australia’s largest fully off-grid battery electric truck project at its Perth Airport headquarters.
The $36 million initiative, delivered in partnership with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Future Fuels Program, brings together 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 trucks powered entirely by renewable energy generated onsite. The scale of the project sets a new benchmark for sustainable transport in Australia’s logistics industry.
To power the operation, Centurion has installed 4.4MW of rooftop solar and 10.3MWh of battery storage — enough energy to support approximately 900 Australian homes for a day. The system is complemented by 15 dual-port chargers across two charging hubs, commissioned in February and July 2025. Trucks can charge overnight or receive top-ups between shifts, supporting continuous operation across the Perth metropolitan area.
“Both Centurion and our customers want to reduce transport emissions, and achieving full off-grid charging for our fleet of Perth collection and delivery trucks is a major milestone in that objective,” said Centurion CEO Justin Cardaci.
The project partners included Daimler Truck, bp Australia, Switch Batteries and Cape Dunstans, with $15.8 million in ARENA funding ensuring the project was delivered on time and on budget. Cape Dunstans, part of the CFC Group alongside Centurion, was responsible for delivering the solar component and managing installation of the charging and storage systems.
Two Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) generators have also been installed to provide energy security under all conditions. The renewable, synthetic diesel alternative is made from waste vegetable oils and animal fats, ensuring trucks can continue operating up to 100 kilometres from base even during extended low-sunlight periods.
Mr Cardaci said the company has taken full control of its first and last mile pick-up and delivery operations in Perth, bringing them back in-house after 15 years of outsourcing.
“This is a real project, not a pilot. We’re reducing emissions while delivering a reliable, high-quality, end-to-end service to our customers,” he said.
Centurion’s approach reflects its long-standing focus on sustainability and innovation. Over the past decade, the company has worked closely with original equipment manufacturers to adopt the latest Euro emissions standards and trial emerging low-emission technologies. The company trialled its first electric truck in 2021, making this new fleet a natural progression.
“We’re learning every day how to best deploy EV technology and plan to apply those lessons across our business,” Mr Cardaci said. “It’s about being practical, embedding sustainability into our operations, and preparing for a lower-emissions future.”
With nearly 1,000 trucks and 2,400 employees across 34 locations nationwide, Centurion remains one of Australia’s largest privately owned logistics companies. Its vehicles travel more than 60 million kilometres each year, servicing the resources sector, retail, refrigerated freight, heavy haulage, and regional communities.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said projects like Centurion’s demonstrate how renewable energy can support commercial transport operations at scale. Through its $500 million Driving the Nation Fund, ARENA is investing in cleaner, cheaper transport options to accelerate the shift to a low-carbon economy.
For fleet operators, Centurion’s off-grid model provides a glimpse of what’s possible when renewable generation, battery storage and vehicle electrification are integrated into day-to-day operations — a practical pathway toward emissions reduction without compromising reliability or service delivery.
