Tasmanian operator 7R Logistics is partnering with Countrywide Hydrogen with the aim of becoming the first fleet in the state to offer a zero-emissions option to customers.
Countrywide is aiming to have three Tasmanian hydrogen refuelling sites strategically located near Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie, allowing the state’s major transport routes to be covered by a network of refuelling stations.
Countrywide says hydrogen-powered trucks deliver similar or better performance than diesel equivalents in terms of power output, torque, payload, refuelling time, range, and whole-of-life cost of operation.
7R, which specialises in the collection and transportation of milk, water and other bulk food grade liquids, as well as gases, has committed to offering a zero-emissions heavy vehicle transport alternative to its customers.
The company currently operates 12 heavy vehicles powered by diesel in Tasmania, on average operating over 200,000km a year and each emitting 250 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Extrapolating these numbers across this fleet will mean emissions reductions of 3000 tonnes a year by converting to zero emission fuel cell vehicles.
“With so many Australian companies announcing their emissions reductions targets, there is a strong appetite among them to secure freight services that offer a zero-emissions alternative,” said Tim Jensen, 7R’s managing director after signing a Joint Co-Operation Agreement with Countrywide.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Countrywide to offer our customers a critically fast-refuelling hydrogen electric option.”
According a media statement to mark the new deal between Countrywide and 7R Logistics, road transport accounts for at least 20 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions.
In Hobart that number is reported to be 30 per cent. In turn, these emissions account for 220 premature deaths and 380 premature hospitalisations, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Melbourne.