Volvo hands over its first FE Electric sold down under

Global logistics provider GEODIS has become the first operator in Australia to put the Volvo FE Electric to work, with the new truck hitting the road in Sydney.

The newly delivered 6×2 FE Electric is the first Volvo Electric truck to be sold in down under by Volvo Trucks Australia.

It will be used to transport parts from GEODIS’s Matraville NSW headquarters to Volvo Group Australia’s Minto NSW Parts Distribution Centre on the southwestern outskirts of Sydney.

Daily energy demands are met by 50kWh AC charging at the depot end of the 47-kilometre route.

With a 7-tonne payload, the FE Electric is fitted with four batteries on board and offers 266kWh capacity. The truck also makes use of a 225-kW/850Nm dual-motor driveline and is backed by a 2-speed automated transmission. Operational range is quoted at up to 220km depending on battery configuration and application.

Energy usage for this route is in the vicinity of 69kWh. Utilising 50kWh chargers, total charge time from 0 per cent to 100 per cent battery is just over three hours. By opportunity charging while the truck is loading and unloading, Volvo Trucks Australia says the truck can be driven well in excess of its daily work demand.

Wacol based Volvo Group regional logistics buyer Jennie Alfredsson first identified the route as being ideal for an electric truck. “We are heavily focused on reducing CO2 emissions from our freight task by 30% per vehicle by 2025,” she said.

Alfredsson subsequently pitched the idea to Volvo Group Australia’s vice president emerging technology business development, Paul Illmer.

“This project has been such a great example of multiple stakeholders working together to take yet another step towards decarbonising our industry one truck at a time,” said Illmer.

“As a transport buyer, Jennie has recognised an opportunity to make a difference in our logistics operations as seized it. And as a team we’ve worked together to bring a solution to the table.

“We’ve made no bones about our determination to tackle the decarbonisation challenges along the way, whether that be sourcing green power for our facilities, a solar project utilizing our own building and factories or finding opportunities such as this.

GEODIS sub-regional managing director- Pacific, Stuart Asplet, agreed, “GEODIS is a low-carbon transport and logistics solution pioneer, and we continually strive to reduce our carbon footprint and limit polluting emissions. We are delighted to collaborate with Volvo on this path, since we know that our future success will be dependent on sustainable partnerships such as this.”