Ahead of its electric truck showcase at the upcoming Brisbane Truck Show, Volvo Group Australia has been given the green light for a trial of heavy battery-powered trucks
Queensland’s Palaszczuk Government is backing Volvo trials of two heavy battery-powered trucks featuring three-axles and operating at a gross weight of 44,000kg.
The vehicles will also boast the latest heavy vehicle safety features such as lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, passenger corner camera, dynamic steering with stability assist, under-run protection, collision warning with emergency braking and electronically controlled brake systems.
State Transport Minister Mark Bailey says he’s excited to see Volvo bringing the latest zero-emission technology trucks to Queensland.
“We know reducing transport emissions will play a key role in achieving net zero emissions in Queensland by 2050, and this trial is an important step towards that,” he says.
“The introduction of battery electric heavy vehicles provides opportunities to also bring vehicles with the latest safety technology features and emissions performance to our shores.”
Bailey says the Queensland Government understands changes will be needed to steer-axle mass limits and truck width to match European battery-electric heavy vehicles standards.
The current maximum truck width regulation of 2.5 metres means that each electric Volvo sold in Australia needs a special permit because it’s 2.5 centimetres over the 2.5m limit.
Volvo vice president of emerging technology business development Paul Illmer says the front axle weight limit needs to be increased from 6.5 tonnes to 7.1-7.5 tonnes to allow for the extra battery weight.
“The information available from trials like this will help our engineers make sure mass and dimension issues with the take-up of battery electric heavy vehicles are managed in a sustainable way to benefit all Queenslanders,” he says.
Announcement of the trial follows confirmation that Volvo Group Australia will start making all-electric trucks in its Wacol factory in Queensland – the country’s biggest vehicle manufacturing plant – in 2027.
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