Logistics heavyweight rolls out new electric rigid truck, to help with LPG deliveries

Australian freight company Toll Group says it has added another battery electric truck to its fleet, this time a Volvo FE Electric 4×2 rigid truck to support the LPG deliveries for Australia’s biggest energy retailer Origin Energy.

The addition of another battery electric truck to Toll’s fleet is part of the group’s $67 million investment in battery electric heavy vehicles and charging infrastructure that has been co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Driving the Nation program.

The new Volvo FE Electric 4×2 rigid truck has been purpose-built for urban delivery as well as the unique requirements inherent in LPG cylinder distribution.

With a range of between 200 to 275 kilometres thanks to a battery capacity between 280-375 kilowatt-hours (kWh), depending on the number of batteries included (3 or 4), the FE Electric can also reach full charge in 2.3 hours with 150-kilowatt (kW) fast charging.

Two electric motors deliver up to 225 kW of continuous power, equivalent to 300 horsepower, and manages a gross combination weight of up to 27 tonnes.

“This project shows that electric heavy vehicles are not just a concept, they’re a practical solution for complex supply chains,” said Michael Rugendyke, president resources & industrials at Toll.

“Our partnership with Origin Energy highlights how collaboration can accelerate the transition to cleaner logistics.”

The Volvo FE Electric rigid truck has already entered operations in metropolitan Brisbane, delivering LPG cylinders between Origin facilities, as a trial of the technology.

“Our partnership with Toll has enabled us to develop this electric vehicle specifically designed for LPG cylinder delivery,” said Amber Fennell, general manager of Origin LPG.

“This project has been in development for over a year as part of our 10-year strategic partnership. Based on the success of this trial, we are excited about the potential for electric vehicles to transform our LPG operations in the future.”

In the middle of October, Toll added two Volvo FMe Electric 6×4 Prime Movers to its fleet to support BlueScope Steel with its freight and warehousing capabilities.

This was followed at the end of the month by the rollout of 12 new electric Volvo FE battery electric rigids that will replace diesel vehicles used for the national delivery network of global beverage giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

A fortnight later, Toll also delivered two new Volvo FM battery electric prime movers to supermarket giant Coles in Perth.