Australia Post, already the owners of the country’s largest electric delivery fleet, has announced it will accelerate the electrification of its fleet thanks to a $40.5 million investment from the federal government.
The new money will help fund the rollout of a broad array of electric vehicles, ranging from vans to light and heavy rigid trucks as well as prime movers.
The investment will also support the deployment of depot charging infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities such as switchboard enhancements, new distribution boards, and load management controls.
Australia Post already operates over 5,000 electric vehicles across the country, but most of these are two-wheelers and other small delivery vehicles and last-mile delivery vehicles.
The first heavy-duty large electric truck to enter operations for Australia Post, a Mercedes-Benz eActros, began trials in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs late last year. Australia Post also announced plans to increase the electric trucks and motorbikes in its network as part of 2030 sustainability goals in March of this year, as well as increasing its solar power generation and use of low-carbon fuels.
The addition of these new electric vehicles is expected to save around one million litres of diesel each year, a move which will help free up fuel for sectors that are not able to electrify as easily.
“Australia Post has been at the forefront of electric vehicle adoption for over a decade, and this investment allows us to go further faster,” said Shane Plant, Australia Post executive general manager for network operations.
“We’ve seen promising results from our early electric truck trials and existing electric van fleet, and this next phase allows us to scale that across heavier vehicle types.
“It means less reliance on diesel, lower exposure to fuel supply disruptions, and a stronger, more sustainable delivery network for Australian businesses and communities.”
Australia Post will now begin work on sourcing additional the newly funded electric vehicles alongside electrification upgrades at its relevant depots and sites ahead of the vehicles entering service.
Anika Wells, federal minister for communications, said the government funds would support the future of the national delivery network, reducing reliance on diesel and increasing resilience in the event of external shocks.
“With Australians ordering more online than ever before, this investment means Australia Post can keep pace with growing demand while working towards a lower-emissions future,” she said.
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