Team Global Express partners with ARENA to deliver Australia's largest logistics EV fleet

  • Team Global Express, has partnered with ARENA to conduct the largest trial of a heavy electric logistics fleet in Australia
  • Team Global Express will receive $20.1 million in funding from ARENA, in addition to its own $24.2 million investment, totalling $44.3 million to finance the rollout of the project
  • Groundbreaking trial involves the purchase of 60 heavy electric vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure using renewable energy
  • Heavy transport represents 17% of all emissions in Australia – it is critical this is addressed if Australia is to meet our emission reduction targets
  • Team Global Express’ site in Western Sydney (Bungarribee) will be adapted to host the trial
  • Team Global Express will start receiving the electric vehicles from early 2023, over an 18 month period
  • Team Global Express has committed to share its knowledge with ARENA and other industry providers, for the benefit of the entire logistics industry

Team Global Express has been selected by ARENA (the Australian Renewable Energy Agency) to receive $20.1 million in funding to deliver Australia’s largest logistics Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) fleet in Western Sydney.

Team Global Express aims to reduce the emissions profile of its 6500-strong heavy transport fleet, following the large-scale trial which will place 60 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) into its Express Parcels fleet. The 60 electric trucks comprise of 24 Daimler Fuso eCanters and 36 Volvo eFLs. The orders placed with Daimler and Volvo are the single largest orders each company has received for these electric trucks in the world, to date.

Christine Holgate, Group CEO of Team Global Express, said the pioneering trial will place Team Global Express at the forefront of electric vehicle adoption in the Australian logistics sector:

“I want to thank ARENA and Minister Bowen for this opportunity and their support under the Driving the Nation Fund. I would also like to thank our employees, our Union partner the TWU, our Board and our banking partner  - CBA[1] , who together have all made this trial possible. This announcement is a very proud milestone for our people, our customers, our industry and our country.

“Today is an important step toward progressing Australia’s pathway to reduce scope 1 emissions and secure a net zero future. 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.

“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,” said Holgate.

The Bungarribee site in Western Sydney will host this trial due to its strategic location, the nature of the operations and the suitability of the existing facilities to host the necessary battery and charging infrastructure for the fleet. The project will see nearly one third of Team Global Express’ Western Sydney fleet transition to electric trucks and operate 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. Construction of the depot and associated charging infrastructure will commence shortly after Christmas peak period and employ over 50 people. The Bungarribee depot will commence receiving the 60 vehicles over an 18 month period from early next year.


[1] Team Global Express’ recently implemented loan facility with Commonwealth Bank of Australia provided us the support to pursue this initiative.

Team Global Express has been engaging with its local Bungarribee workforce and our Union partners, the TWU, to facilitate the transition of its driver workforce to electric vehicles, which will involve substantial investment in training and revised processes.


“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. 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. 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,” said Christine Holgate.

The electric vehicle fleet will be deployed as part of Team Global Express’ parcels fleet as this is where the duty cycle is most appropriate to the distances driven during the day and the shift patterns of the drivers. The battery electric vehicles will service deliveries direct to customers in residential areas and commercial customers across a range of industries throughout the Greater Sydney area. Rolling out the electric truck fleet into an urban distribution area was chosen as trucks are stopping and starting regularly and therefore generating energy via braking.

The benefits of the electric truck fleet will extend to local communities through reduced vehicle noise and improved urban air quality. Additionally, our drivers will benefit from improved safety conditions through lower noise and vibrations and the general safety benefits of a new fleet with the latest technology, sensors and ergonomics.

The trial is part of Team Global Express’ ongoing plan to reduce emissions and environmental impacts relating to its intermodal fleet.

ENDS

About Team Global Express

Team Global Express (formerly Toll Global Express) is an Australian-owned transport and logistics business. It employs over 8000 people and provides freight solutions from courier to specialised multi-modal transport throughout Australia and New Zealand. Team Global Express was acquired by Allegro Funds in 2021.

Team Global Express means IPEC Pty Ltd trading as Team Global Express.

 

Note

This Project received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the Driving the Nation Fund.

The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.