CD Dodd has taken delivery of Western Australia’s first fully electric OEM heavy duty truck, in the form of a Volvo FM Electric.
CD Dodd, which works in mine refurbishment, rehabilitation, and recycling, said the company hadn’t set out to achieve this first, but that the move aligns perfectly with its company values.
Company CEO Chris Dodd added, “We champion technologies that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The Volvo FM Electric will be a vital part of our operations, and our drivers can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”
Industry icon Max Winkless, dubbed the “father” of Volvo Trucks in Australia, and Member for Forrestfield, Stephen Price MLA, handed the vehicle over to CD Dodd.
The Volvo FM Electric has a 300km range, can carry 50 tonnes (GCW) and has up to 490Kw of power.
President of Volvo Group, Martin Merrick, said: “This is a significant milestone for Volvo Trucks and the transport industry in Western Australia. The sector currently contributes 18 per cent of the state’s emissions, a figure that innovators, like CD Dodd, are going to help reduce by leading the way in adopting electric vehicles.
“Next year will mark 60 years since Max Winkless introduced the first Volvo to Australia after working with Volvo in Sweden to create a model suitable for Australian roads. Today we see one pioneer passing the baton to another.”
WA’s Minister for Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, added, “Electric trucks will be fundamental in our efforts to decarbonise Western Australian roads, especially for transporting freight in and around urban areas. As many of our freight trucks cover long distances, decarbonising our roads requires a blend of solutions, but electric trucks are available today, and for the right jobs, they can start helping us decarbonise now.”
Earlier in 2024, Volvo Group Australia committed to manufacturing battery electric vehicles in its Queensland facility, building on its 50-year history of Australian manufacturing.
“Our commitment to local manufacturing of electric vehicles in Wacol by as early as 2027 means that soon trucks like this Volvo FM Electric, will be made right here in Australia,” added Merrick.
“No one can get to zero emissions alone. It’s a shared responsibility among industry, government, and stakeholders to work together towards reducing emissions, and that’s what we see here today.”
The Volvo FM Electric truck is a flexible and agile heavy-duty truck with zero tailpipe emissions and near silent noise levels.