A surge of interest in bringing electric trucks to market in New Zealand – and in big numbers – has seen the announcement of plans to launch etrucks from giant Chinese manufacturer BYD here.
BYD declares itself "the global leader in battery-electric trucks, with nearly 10,000 electric trucks in service across North America, South America, Asia and Europe."
The announcement has come soon after confirmation from Fuso NZ that it has the okay from FUSO – Daimler Trucks' etruck specialist – to market up to 100 eCanters here, with the first batch of the battery-electric light-duty FUSOs due here by year's end.
A joint statement by BYD and Australian new-energy transport supplier Nexport says that they – in company with funding partner Macquarie Group's Corporate and Asset Finance – have signed a deal to bring BYD light trucks to Australia and NZ.
And Nexport managing director Luke Todd says that "we will start delivering the first batch of 200 trucks late this year."
Initially it will offer BYD's T5 and T6 models, with 4.5 tonne to seven-tonne GVMs.
And it plans on "moving into medium and large-size trucks in early 2020, with rubbish collection and sea and airport-suitable trucks being the next stage."
Nexport says it has responsibility for sales and distribution of the BYD etrucks in NZ and Australia, calling on its previous experience with electric buses and cars.
The announcement by BYD and Nexport says that the agreement amounts to the largest largest electric commercial vehicle order in Australia to date – and BYD's largest Asia-Pacific order.
BYD says it has been selling its K9 electric buses in Australia since 2016, with an order for Sydney Airport….which resulted in an additional 40 buses. Its ebuses also operate in Canberra and at Brisbane airport.
Nexport and BYD say they're working with Macquarie Corporate and Asset Finance "to develop innovative rental and fleet-managed service solutions for customers seeking alternatives to outright purchase" of the etrucks. 
Macquarie CAF associate director Scott Simpson says its support of the rollout of BYD's etrucks "is an exciting opportunity to work with a uniquely experienced team to deliver cost-effective and proven low emission vehicle solutions to commercial vehicle operators in the region. 
"We see increasing interest in fleet and rental solutions in a range of industries and markets where demand for LEVs is growing, and look forward to working with BYD to explore this – not only in electric trucks, but also other significant EV markets, such as airports and logistics."
BYD and Nexport say that, compared to a typical seven-tonne diesel-powered truck, an equivalent BYD etruck will achieve "like for like fuel saving of 40% in fuel costs – potentially saving $6000-$10,000 in annual fuel costs for a typical small truck driving 50,000kms a year."
The 2019 BYD T5X model has a range of 300 kilometres on a single charge, making it and the T6 "a perfect fit for the needs of small truck operators and logistics businesses in Australia."
This with a loading capacity "close to comparable" to diesel trucks: "This means switching to zero emission trucks should have minimal, if any, effect on day to day operations or scheduling."