With the accessibility of Electric Vehicles (EVs) growing across the Western Plains since the installation of charging stations in towns across the region, attention is now turning towards trucks in the transition into an electric future. 

According to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), electrification will see the beginning of a shift in the trucking industry, and is a pivotal change to drive the goal towards net-zero emissions. 

Chief Executive of the EVC Behyad Jafari said that electric trucks will end volatile diesel costs and reduce maintenance costs. 

“Every government in Australia has committed to net-zero, but this can’t be achieved without decarbonising the transport sector,” Mr Jafari said. 

According to Mr Jafari, the take-up of electric trucks won’t be possible across any industry, including agriculture, without major incentivising. 

“Curfew-free operations are a huge opportunity, creating benefits for operators optimising fleet operations and to the community through reducing peak hour traffic and congestion," he said.

In collaboration with the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the EVC developed key policies that need implementation before any major transition to electric trucks will be possible, including payments to reduce the upfront purchase price difference between electric trucks and combustion engine trucks, and to exempt electric trucks from stamp duty. 

ATA Chair David Smith said the upfront costs of the investment will be worth the long term savings.

“It costs about $117 to fuel a diesel truck for 300 kilometres, but just $18 for an electric truck,” Mr Smith said. 

“Trucking operators face a number of barriers to buy and use an electric truck and these must be addressed to lower freight costs, improve fuel security and reduce emissions. 

According to the federal government’s Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy, the jump towards electric trucks will be a key feature of the $2.1 billion investment, leveraging more private sector investment by focusing on heavy and long distance vehicle fleets. 

A key to the success of this plan will be driving down the cost of the technology, which currently proves to be too heavy an investment for both car and truck owners.

Following the United Nations Climate Summit last year, Australia has learned that electric vehicle take-up will provide a stepping stone to ambitious goals toward carbon-zero.

“Accelerating Australia’s inevitable transition to superior electric vehicles is the most straightforward way the federal government can act now to drive down emissions. All it needs to do is look at our friends around the world and follow suit,” Mr Jafari said.

“Given the average lifespan of cars, net zero by 2050 means all cars sold will need to be zero-emissions no later than 2035. We are nowhere near on track for that currently. But we know what we have to do, because the rest of the world is doing it,” Mr Jafari said. 

Like smaller vehicles, the trucking industry will require not only incentivisation but assistance to meet the path set for a cleaner future, given the obstacles that stand in the way.