Team Global Express has launched the first mass-charging depot for electric trucks in Western Sydney. Amongst the forest of yellow Jet Charge charging poles, there were Volvo heavy duty electric trucks on display which are part of the 60 zero tailpipe emission delivery vehicles that will be based at the site.
It was an important milestone for the transport industry, the Federal government, and ARENA who provided half of the funds as the first of eight fleet projects they are supporting.
At this event, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen acknowledged the importance of fleets in the national transition to electric vehicles, and told Fleet News Group that the success of the Electric Car Discount Bill is changing buying behaviour, and that Fleet Managers have an important role to play in making electric cars more affordable for all Australians.
“It is really driving behaviour, driving the take up of electric vehicles, particularly Novated leases where the figures are extraordinarily strong, and fleets more broadly,” explained Minister Bowen.
“And that’s important, not only for those fleets and those Novated leases, but because fleets turnover after two or three years. That’s really going to drive the second hand market for electric vehicles, which we don’t really have in Australia at the moment. We don’t have a secondhand market in EVs any meaningful way. And that’s the ultimate answer for affordability.”
“First car buyers, families, are much more likely to buy a secondhand car than a new car. And the advantage of getting fleets converted, and Novated leases converted to electric, is that after two or three years, like Commonwealth fleet which is sold after three years, they’ll hit the second hand market.”
Most Fleet Managers understand the role fleet vehicles have played in improving road safety as their vehicles entered the used car market. Now there is another purpose and it’s great to get this vote of support from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
