National freight and logistics company, Centurion has announced a project to add 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros battery electric trucks to its fleet as part of what is being claimed as an Australian-first, 100 per cent renewable energy off grid battery electric vehicle fleet.
The Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Future Fuels Program will contribute $15.8 million toward the $29 million program that will enable the trucks to join Centurion’s Perth metro fleet.
The company says that by the end of 2024, the eActros trucks will be fully powered by four megawatts of rooftop solar generation and off-grid battery energy storage, using 15 dual port chargers at Centurion’s Hazelmere depot in Perth.
Daimler Truck Australia Pacific president and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, said the Centurion project follows a pattern of innovation at the company and applauds its CEO, Justin Cardaci, for his leadership.
“Sustainability leadership is often talked about but rarely proven in this industry. Justin and the team at Centurion are true believers in making our world more sustainable; they are not just in it for a green headline,” Whitehead said..
“This remarkable off-grid eActros project is truly inspiring, but Centurion has long been focused on reducing emissions and has been running the most fuel-efficient trucks that meet or exceed Euro 6 emission standards from Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz for many years, well before the standards are regulated,” Whitehead added.
“I applaud Centurion’s determination to make a difference and its commitment to lead the Australian transport industry on a path to a more sustainable future. I’d also like to thank the Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency and its Future Fuels Program for helping to make this project a reality,” he concluded.
Justin Cardaci said the project represents a significant step in Centurion’s decarbonisation journey as it continues its work towards an operational future with net zero emissions.
“Centurion actively seeks to deploy technology where it’s ready to displace the diesel transport equivalent and the ARENA funding certainly helps support the project’s economics,” he said.
“For most of our operations, the zero emissions heavy transport technology won’t be ready for several years. However, battery electric trucks are now ready for operations across the wider metropolitan area and it’s great that Centurion has the capacity to bring this technology into our fleet,” Cardaci added.
“Operating a real zero emissions Mercedes-Benz eActros truck fleet from off grid solar and battery is a significant step in supporting the energy transition,” he concluded.
Daimler Truck Australia Pacific Sales, marketing and operations vice president, Andrew Assimo, said the eActros, can carry heavy loads and has a range of more than 300km and is the perfect choice for Centurion.
“Thanks to a massive investment in engineering by Daimler Truck, the eActros brings the most advanced technology to the class with innovative features such as the efficient eAxle,” Assimo said.
“We can’t wait to see the eActros hit the road in Centurion colours as part of this fantastic initiative and look forward to helping Justin and his team continue their sustainability leadership,” Assimo added.
The Mercedes-Benz Trucks says the eActros will be officially launched in Australia in May, along with the next generation fully-electric Fuso eCanter, which further extend Daimler Truck’s sustainability leadership.
Fuso was the first manufacturer to introduce an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) electric truck in Australia with the local launch of original eCanter in 2021.
