Ausgrid is trialling a Volvo FH electric prime mover as part of its plan to electrify 900 of its 1600-vehicle fleet by 2029. The two-week trial, now halfway through, involves the truck traveling between Somersby on the Central Coast and Newcastle, Muswellbrook, and Sydney's northern suburbs.
The Volvo truck has a 300-kilometre range and is charged using a portable 180-kilowatt charger from Australian company HubZero. The charger takes about two hours to fully recharge the truck and does not require a grid upgrade, making it more cost-effective than fixed solutions.
Ausgrid estimates each diesel prime mover uses 15,000 litres of fuel annually. With diesel at $2.36 per litre, electrifying the entire fleet could save roughly $495,600 per year in fuel costs. HubZero co-founder Mahan Perera said the electricity to run the truck is about 90 per cent cheaper than diesel.
Ausgrid's head of logistics, Nick Black, reported positive feedback from truck drivers after the first week, noting the truck is quiet, easy to drive, and has ample torque. Ausgrid plans to trial other truck brands before replacing two diesel prime movers with electric vehicles soon.
