Australian freight company Toll Group has announced the rollout of another 12 electric trucks that will replace diesel vehicles used for the national delivery network of global beverage giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
The 12 new electric trucks will operate across key metropolitan routes in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. Originally announced as 12 Volvo FM battery electric rigid trucks, Toll updated their announcement to say that the 12 trucks were actually Volvo FE battery electric rigids, which boast a 12-pallet capacity, quieter and lower emission operations, and a range of up to 270 kilometres.
Toll and CCEP co-invested in site-specific charging infrastructure ranging from 30- to 60-kilowatt (kW) dual outlet charging stations.
The rollout of the 12 new electric trucks is part of Toll’s $67 million investment in battery electric heavy vehicles and charging infrastructure, which is backed by investment from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through its ‘Driving the Nation’ program.
In total, Toll expects 27 EVs to be launched in partnership with its customers over the coming months in what the company claims is Australia’s largest deployment of battery electric heavy vehicles in the third-party sector.
“Our investment in these 12 new electric rigids along with dedicated charging infrastructure across our facilities, reflects our long-term commitment to building a more sustainable beverage distribution network,” said Phillip Parsons, director of logistics at CCEP.
“Partnering with Toll on this roll out is another meaningful step in our journey toward achieving net zero emissions by 2040, working collaboratively with suppliers to drive sustainable solutions across our entire value chain.”
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.