Volvo FH Electric Begins Unilever Deliveries

Wacol, Australia- Volvo Trucks has delivered a Volvo FH Electric prime mover to Australian electric freight company New Energy Transport (NET), marking the first of 11 Volvo electric trucks scheduled to join the operator’s fleet over the next 12 months.

The vehicle has entered commercial service for Unilever, transporting consumer goods from the company’s distribution centre in Ingleburn to customer locations across Sydney on weekday routes. The agreement establishes Unilever as NET’s foundation customer and makes it one of the first major consumer goods companies in Australia to use battery-electric heavy trucks for road freight operations.

The truck was officially handed over during an event involving Volvo Trucks, NET and Unilever at Sydney Harbour. It is also the first vehicle deployed under a Volvo Financial Services arrangement supported by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is designed to reduce the leasing costs associated with heavy electric trucks in Australia.

NET recently announced a Rapid Deployment Plan to introduce 20 electric trucks and six mobile charging units to Australian roads by the end of 2026. The plan is supported by an initial AUD 5 million equity investment backed by Jekara Group and facilitated by Pollination.

According to NET, the partnership with Volvo and Unilever represents an important step in demonstrating the commercial viability of battery-electric heavy freight. Volvo’s electric truck technology, national service network and financing support are expected to improve vehicle availability and reduce barriers to fleet adoption.

The Volvo FH Electric will help Unilever reduce transport-related emissions within its Australian supply chain. The consumer goods company said collaboration between freight operators, vehicle manufacturers and transport customers would be essential to address the challenges associated with decarbonising heavy road freight.

Scheduled to begin operations in late 2027, the depot will initially support 50 trucks, with capacity expected to expand to 200 vehicles. Its location will connect major freight corridors between Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra.

You must be logged in to respond.