Australia’s largest supermarket chain, Woolworths has announced that it will soon be home delivering what it claims will be “greener groceries” in Sydney’s CBD, with what it is claiming is an Australian first, in the form of an innovative, offsite charging hub developed by Zenobē in South Sydney with funding from the government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The offsite charging facility will host 22 dual guns to power up CBD EV trucks for last mile electrification, beating inner city grid constraints.
Zenobē and Woolworths claim the development will create a blueprint for what is possible in fleet delivery truck electrification.
With Zenobē establishing what it claims will be the nation’s first offsite truck charging hub at the site in South Sydney, it will allow Woolworths to accelerate the expansion of its fleet of electric home delivery trucks as it progresses towards its commitment to operate a 100 per cent electric home delivery fleet by 2030.
Zenobē is a global electric fleet and energy storage specialist, and to support this initiative it has secured an $8.5 million (AU) grant from ARENA, as part of its ‘Driving the Nation Fund’.
The company claims that as well as supporting the first offsite truck charging hub, the funding will be integrated as part of the nation’s first electric vehicle as a service (EVaaS) model.
It says that electrifying a fleet can present significant operational and financial uncertainties: around securing sufficient power, installing and maintaining charging infrastructure, replacing batteries, and keeping services reliable and both cost and energy efficient.
Zenobē added that through the EVaaS model, it can use its electrification expertise to manage the challenges on behalf of Woolworths.
The company says that the project will showcase what is possible for Australia’s last mile delivery sector, fast tracking electrification of the nation’s heavy-duty vehicles.
The EV project includes a brand-new $19 million charging hub and the leasing of 60 battery electric trucks to Woolworths, forming part of its home delivery fleet.
It is claimed that the site will also have the capacity to accommodate additional battery electric trucks to create a multi-user facility.
Zenobē says that the site will be powered by a renewable energy tariff and built with energy optimisation at its core. It will includes 22 dual port DC chargers integrated with Zenobē’s smart charging software and a second life battery, which it says will be made from repurposed EV batteries.
The founder and director of Zenobē, Nicholas Beatty, said that it is fantastic to see the Australian Government supporting innovative and ambitious projects to decarbonise the transport network.
“Zenobē has a strong track record of working with governments and partners across the globe to deliver transport decarbonisation projects that maximise green investments and this project exemplifies that outcome,” said Beatty.
“Our model ensures Woolworths can focus on their core business, while we design, finance, build and operate the infrastructure that delivers on their sustainability ambitions,” he added
Zenobē’s country director of Australia and New Zealand, Gareth Ridge said the company is thrilled to utilise the ARENA Driving the Nation Fund to work alongside Woolworths in deploying an Australian first electric vehicle as a service (EVaaS) charging hub model.
“The funding will enable us to set a new standard for truck fleet electrification both in the region and in the wider industry,” Ridge said.
“This will create another blueprint for what is possible, this time in large-scale heavy vehicle fleet electrification, following the success in establishing the Leichhardt Next Generation Bus depot. The project is another step forward in realising our goal of making clean power accessible and efficient for major operators,” he said.
The head of last mile innovation and partnerships for the Woolworths Last Mile delivery business, Wendy Briggs said the company is working to make its fleet of home delivery trucks 100 per cent electric by 2030, and knows that it will only be possible with the support of sustainability leaders like Zenobē.
“Zenobē’s unique capability and experience are helping us put more EVs on the road sooner, meaning greener home delivery for more of our customers,” said Briggs.
Zenobē says its offsite charging hub has accelerated Woolworths EV delivery truck program by overcoming current grid and site constraints.
It added that the announcement marks a significant milestone in the enablement of truck electrification in Australia, creating an innovative blueprint and offering operators flexible and simple access to infrastructure, without the risks.
The company said that the project sets an example for similar efforts globally, positioning the company at the forefront of the green logistics revolution.
