Fledgling zero emission truck and commercial vehicle distributor, Foton Mobility has revealed some ambitious plans for Australia, flagging that heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks will be part of its menu for expansion in this country and ‘the only way to tackle the weights and distances that are demanded here.
Foton Mobility CEO Neil Wang, and his key truck lieutenant, former Hino and SEA Electric executive, Bill Gillespie briefed the trucking media last week revealing that the company would be adding to its currently meagre electric truck offering, with larger trucks, a range of vans and perhaps also some electric Utes.
Wang revealed that Foton Mobility will also be aiming to move up into higher weight commercials with the promise that it will bring hydrogen fuel cell powered zero emission trucks for Australian companies that are increasingly interested in reducing transport emissions with heavy-duty, long-haul trucks necessarily relying on the world’s most abundant element with hydrogen technology.
Foton boss Wang, who has a background in bus sales here, having established and taken the Yutong brand to impressive sales heights, says that Foton Mobility’s first forays into hydrogen fuel cell tech, will be with hydrogen powered buses which Wang says are about to be trialled in Adelaide, while he said the company had already delivered three H2 buses in Tasmania.
The briefing revealed that Foton Mobility has forged some alliances with BOC Gases as a key hydrogen fuel supplier along with alliances with electric charging companies and other suppliers to ensure that the route forward towards zero emission might be a little less complex and difficult.
Foton currently concentrates mostly on its T5 battery electric light duty truck in Australia, with the Chinese manufactured light truck finding some buyers among some significant companies, including Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings, ANC-Ikea, Kenner’s Hire and Mainfreight among others, with the trucks having a sweet spot in last mile delivery in urban areas.
Wang and Gillespie revealed that Woolworths has recently ordered another 60 Foton electric trucks, adding to the few dozen the supermarket giant already has on its delivery fleet.
However Wang was adamant that the key way Australia’s carbon transport emissions would be reduced would be by a combination of the battery electric tech it is currently selling and hydrogen fuel cell machines pointing to the fact that refuelling times for hydrogen is akin to a diesel truck and also that they are suited to Australia’s vast inter city distances.
“If you need to move a truck from Sydney to Brisbane or to Melbourne, you can’t afford to stop in the middle of the trip and charge for several hours and 
given hydrogen gives you quick refuelling time and long driving distances.,” Neil Wang said.
As mentioned Wang said that there would be more Foton models and updates in the pipeline and that the hydrogen fuel cell heavy duty truck was ‘on the horizon’.
The company shocked many when it recently unveiled an eight year warranty on its T5 electric trucks, a guarantee that will help cure some of the trepidation fleet buyers currently have for battery electric trucks, when it comes to potentially eye watering repair costs and uncertain resale at the end of lease.
Wang told the media that Foton has also forged a relationship with various state TAFE organisations to train technicians on electric truck technology .
The Foton T5 is currently available in a number of configurations ready to work, including as a tipper, which Wang says has attracted interest fro a number of local government councils.
It is also available as a refrigerated and non-chilled Xantech body and with an aluminium tray.
Wang and Gillespie point to the fact that the Foton T5 boasts the lightest tare wright of a light duty electric truck at 2480kg and that the company would drop a further 100kg out of that figure in coming months with an updated model.
The pair agree that predicting a reliable range figure for any electric vehicle is different given the high number of variables including differing weights carried, alternative body types as well as driving styles and climatic conditions, but did say that they generally stand behind a range of around 200km from full charge to empty.
“Most of these trucks operating in a city environment need a range of between 150km and 180km between charges, and certainly experience with Woolworths has taught us that that is consistently possible with the Foton and always achievable,” said Bill Gillespie.
He said that with Woolworths and Coles delivery fleets numbering around 2500 light trucks here is enormous opportunity even if it only captures 10 per cent of that fleet in the medium term.
When asked about battery life in light trucks Gillespie said he envisaged that 
a ten year performance life would be eminently achievable with the Foton T5, which would probably exceed the normal operating window for an ICE powered truck on a fleet purchasing new trucks.
China’s early and concerted push into electric vehicles for its massive domestic market but lately for the export markets means vehicles from there not only enjoy a price advantage, but also they are demonstrating that technically they are not that far behind the established vehicle brands.
Time will tell if Foton Mobility can establish a position of strength in the zero emission commercial vehicle market, but with the variety of electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric machines it has targeted for Australia, along with Wang’s experience in establishing electric buses down under, then if any operation outside the established brands can do it then Foton has a reasonable chance.
