Volvo Group Australia is on track to begin building electric trucks at its Wacol, Queensland plant by 2027.

The announcement was made by Volvo Group Australia President and CEO, Martin Merrick during a visit by members of the Swedish royal family to Australia in late-February.

The Australian National University in Canberra hosted the Electrification in Sweden and Australia panel discussion event, which was opened by Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden as part of a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand. 

The Crown Princess took the opportunity to address climate change and the drive towards a more sustainable future while the discussions covered topics from infrastructure, government policy, consumer behaviour and business incentives. 

Volvo is also introducing the first electric truck into Australian logistics operations with the delivery of the first Volvo FE Electric truck sold Down Under to global logistics giant GEODIS.

The 6x2 FE Electric is being put to work in a pilot scheme transporting parts from GEODIS’s Matraville NSW headquarters to Volvo Group Australia’s Minto NSW Parts Distribution Centre on the Southwestern outskirts of Sydney.

Daily energy demands are met by 50kWh AC charging at the depot end of the 47km route.

The FE Electric is fitted with four batteries on board and offers 266kWh capacity and is capable of hauling a 7-tonne payload. The truck makes use of a 225-kW/850Nm dual-motor driveline and is also backed by a two-speed automated transmission. Operational range is quoted at up to 220km depending on battery configuration and application. 

Energy usage for this route is in the vicinity of 69kWh. Utilising 50kWh chargers, total charge time from 0% to 100% battery is just over three hours. 

By opportunity charging while the truck is loading and unloading, the truck can be driven well in excess of its daily work demand. 

Wacol-based Volvo Group Regional Logistics Buyer, Jennie Alfredsson first identified the route as being ideal for an electric truck.

“We are heavily focused on reducing CO2 emissions from our freight task by 30% per vehicle by 2025,” says Alfredsson.

Alfredsson subsequently pitched the idea to Volvo Group Australia’s Vice President Emerging Technology Business Development, Paul Illmer. 

“This project has been such a great example of multiple stakeholders working together to take yet another step towards decarbonising our industry one truck at a time,” says Illmer.

“As a transport buyer, Jennie has recognised an opportunity to make a difference in our logistics operations as seized it. And as a team we’ve worked together to bring a solution to the table. 

“We’ve made no bones about our determination to tackle the decarbonisation challenges along the way, whether that be sourcing green power for our facilities, a solar project utilising our own building and factories or finding opportunities such as this.”

GEODIS is working to reduce its carbon footprint and limit polluting emissions.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Volvo on this path, since we know that our future success will be dependent on sustainable partnerships such as this,” says GEODIS Sub-Regional Managing Director-Pacific, Stuart Asplet.