Friday March 29, 2024
01-12-21

Australia Post welcomes its first electric trucks

Australia Post's Fuso eCanters
Australia Post's Fuso eCanters

Australia Post has welcomed the first of 20 electric trucks to its national delivery fleet, with three Fuso eCanters now delivering parcels to customers in Melbourne ahead of Christmas.

The remaining 17 eCanters will hit the streets delivering in major capital cities from early 2022, with the rollout of the new vehicles supported by Australia Post’s Fleet Management Provider SG Fleet.

The eCanters add to Australia Post’s existing electric delivery fleet of more than 2,100 electric delivery vehicles and 1,400 electric bicycles and follows the successful trial of the Daimler-developed truck in late 2019.

Ideal for Australian conditions

Australia Post General Manager Networks, James Dixon, said the addition of the Fuso eCanter to Australia Post’s delivery fleet was an exciting step for the organisation.

“We’re very proud to be Australia’s largest electric fleet operator, but up until this point our electric fleet has consisted solely of smaller delivery vehicles that are used for the last-mile. We’ve trialled a range of electric trucks previously, but the Fuso eCanter is the first we’ve found that suits both Australian conditions and our unique operational needs,” he explained.

Australia Post Chief Sustainability Officer Susan Mizrahi pointed out that expanding the current electric fleet was an important part of the Australia Post’s 2020-22 Corporate Responsibility plan and its science-based target to reduce emissions by 15% by 2025. 

“This is an important milestone for our business. We know that every delivery has a carbon footprint which is why we’re committed to reducing our emissions through growing our electric fleet and increasing our renewable energy production to help power these new vehicles,” she said.

Only e-truck in Australia

The Fuso eCanter is the only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) electric truck available in Australia and uses the latest technology from the Daimler Truck group.

Daniel Whitehead, the President and CEO of Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific, which represents the Fuso, Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz brands, said Australia Post was the perfect first Australian customer for the eCanter. “Daimler is thrilled to partner with such an iconic brand as Australia Post on a journey towards carbon neutral freight transportation in Australia,” he said.

Science-based target

Australia Post is committed to reducing scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by FY2025 (from a FY2019 baseline), aligned with a well-below 2°C pathway. Any emissions generated by the electricity usage from the Fuso eCanter will be offset through the purchase of renewable energy certificates.

SourceAustralia Post
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