Team Global Express to trial Australia’s largest logistics EV fleet

Freight giant Team Global Express has announced that it will receive $20.1 million in funding from ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) to trial Australia’s largest fleet of logistics electric vehicles.  

Team Global Express will place 60 electric trucks into its Express Parcels fleet, which will undergo a large-scale trial at its Bungarribee site in Western Sydney.  

The trucks comprise 24 Daimler Fuso eCanters and 36 Volvo eFLS – the single largest orders each company has received for these electric trucks in the world, to date.  

The trial is part of Team Global Express’ decarbonisation strategy relating to its intermodal fleet.   

“Today is an important step toward progressing Australia’s pathway to reduce scope 1 emissions and secure a net zero future,” said Christine Holgate, CEO of Team Global Express. 

Apart from ARENA’s donation, Team Global Express also has its own $24.2 million investment into the project, totalling $44.3 million to finance its rollout.  

Holgate said this is the first project of its scale in Australian logistics.  

“As such we are in a unique position to work closely with ARENA to share the knowledge we gain and provide this vital information for the benefit of the entire transport and logistics sector,” she said. 

“This trial will not only reduce emissions, it will also give our valued employees at Bungarribee the opportunity to be trained on charging, driving and optimising the electric vehicles of the future. 

“For Team Global Express, it’s an important milestone in our vision to be Australia’s most sustainable logistics company.” 

The ground-breaking project will see about one-third of Team Global Express’ Western Sydney fleet transition to electric trucks.  

The delivery company said the EVs will be operated under a ‘back-to-base’ model with travel from distribution centres to customers in residential and urban areas, with the trucks returning to the depot for charging. 

The trucks will be powered and charged on-site at Bungarribee using both on-site solar generation, the installation of a battery energy storage system and the use of renewable energy from the grid.  

The company said it has also been engaging with its local Bungarribee workforce and Union partners, the TWU (Transport Workers’ Union), to facilitate the transition of its driver workforce to EVs, which will involve substantial investment in training and revised processes.

Related: ALC welcomes government’s push for an electric vehicle strategy 

“I am so encouraged by the amazing response we have had from our people to put their hands up and volunteer to be part of this trial,” Holgate shared. 

“We often talk about the transition of workforces as we move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This is happening in real-time at Team Global Express as we retire diesel-fuelled vehicles and replace them with EVs,” she said.  

“I am so proud of the enthusiasm and willingness from our team to participate in this change that benefits our customers, people and our Country.” 

Construction of the depot and associated charging infrastructure will begin shortly after Christmas peak period. It is estimated to employ over 50 people.  

The Bungarribee depot will commence receiving the 60 vehicles over an 18-month period from early 2023. 

Source: Team Global Express media release