All-Electric Truck Completes Milestone in Australia
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An electric semi-trailer truck just hauled 49 tons from Canberra to Sydney on a single charge.
Carrying tons of toilet paper - the final mile deliveries were made with electric vehicles too - the haul kept emissions as low as possible, and avoided the use of any polluting (and increasingly expensive) diesel. Whilst the operation has long been in the planning, the use of these eco-friendly trucks is likely to accelerate thanks to Trump, the accidental environmentalist.
Built by New Energy Transport (NET) the Windrose semi-trailer truck has a range of 416 miles at 49 combined tons, and boasts 1,400 horsepower. Reporting on the maiden voyage, Australian Truck Radio says that the vehicle delivered a whopping 84 percent reduction in fuel costs and, better yet, made the 186-mile trip 25 minutes faster thanks to the truck's electrically powered acceleration whenever it hit an incline along the route.
This was not a one-off as the Windrose had demonstrated its capabilities late last year by setting the world record for the longest single-charge long haul delivery: just under 300 miles.
As Big Rig reports: "The fuel crisis tightens its grip on the transport industry, zero-emission trucking company New Energy Transport said it’s proven there is an all-electric alternative for inter-city deliveries in Australia."
“This delivery ushers in a new era for Australian road freight where electric heavy trucks are not just cheaper and faster, they unshackle Australia from volatile global oil markets, dramatically strengthening our supply chain resilience,” said Daniel Bleakley of NET.
“Australia runs on road freight so if diesel stops, we stop and starve. Electrifying trucking strengthens our energy security, and we’re ready - we already build electric trucks and charging infrastructure, and can power it all with sun and wind,” says John Grimes, CEO at Smart Energy Council.
