Local new energy vehicle distributor Foton Mobility Distribution is bringing two bigger electric trucks to Australia, adding to its fleet offerings of hydrogen and electric vehicles.
Foton currently advertises four new energy vehicles on its Australian website – a 12.4-metre hydrogen city bus, a 12.5-metre electric city bus, the 4.5-tonne EV Truck T5, and an EV concrete truck.
The T5 has been rolled out by several Australian companies, including Woolworths, Bunnings, and Ausgrid, and Foton now says it will introduce new 8.5-tonne and 18-tonne EV trucks to its lineup in the second half of 2025.
“We had the 4.5-tonne [gross vehicle mass (GVM)], which a lot of companies haven’t been able to bring here, and that’s the biggest segment of the light truck market,” said Neil Wang, CEO and founder of Foton Mobility Distribution.
“You can also put a tipper body on and upgrade it to six tonnes, you can have a Pantech or a refrigerator body, even an alloy tray, making it very versatile. It can also tow 3.5 tonnes, with a [gross combination mass (GCM)] of eight tonnes. So, we had a car-license truck, out of the box, for the last-mile companies in Australia.”
The two new variants will include an 18-tonne variant that will be available in two wheelbases – 4,500mm and 5,500mm. Powered by a 281kWh CATL battery, the electric truck is designed to meet the power and range required of medium-duty trucks, and is already available for ordering, with first deliveries expected in September.
Foton is also planning to conduct trials with several large medium-duty truck operators in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Following the 18-tonne variant will be an 8.5-tonne electric truck for the light-duty truck segment, commonly used in applications ranging from construction, delivery, and general freight transport. Timing for the 8.5-tonne variant, however, is scheduled for later this year.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.