Ausgrid Introduces First-Ever Heavy Electric Vehicles

East coast electricity distributor Ausgrid is introducing its first-ever heavy electric vehicles as part of its goal to electrify 40 per cent of its fleet by 2029.

CEO Marc England says the two new Foton EV tippers and one SEA Electric flatbed truck will help Ausgrid learn how to better enable other businesses to electrify their fleets.

Already leading the industry with its EV fleet, the two new vehicles are the latest step in Ausgrid’s goal to electrify 900 vans, cars and trucks by 2029.

The use of the three trucks will reduce Ausgrid’s diesel consumption by 10,000 litres per year and contribute to its net-zero goals.

“As a key enabler of electrification, Ausgrid needs to understand what infrastructure is required to get many more EV trucks on the road,” he says.

“Ausgrid needs to facilitate this shift towards EV adoption and a net-zero future but do it in a way that is fully supported by the electricity grid. Ultimately, we want to ensure that any individual or company wanting to go electric, no matter how complex their fleet needs, is able to do so.”

The Foton EV tippers and SEA Electric flatbed are the latest step in Ausgrid’s goal to electrify 900 vehicles by 2029

NSW has the largest number of EVs on the road in Australia. In the past year, the number of NSW EV drivers doubled to around 12,000.

Ausgrid’s Head of Supply Chain and Fleet Tim Kynoch says the inclusion of larger electric vehicles to the fleet is part of its electrification plan.

“As these are our first electric heavy vehicles, we had to ensure they had the capacity and range to do what we and our customers needed them to do,” he says.

“Ausgrid is committed to remaining at the forefront of electric vehicle technology.”

For more information on how Ausgrid is supporting the electric vehicle transition visit ausgrid.com.au/EV.