Australia – The Electric Vehicle Council of Sydney, New South Wales, a national body representing the electric vehicle industry in Australia, and the Australian Trucking Association of Canberra have co-authored a report which assesses the current state of electric road freight transport in the country and outlines a series of policy recommendations to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in the truck segment. The document suggests that state and federal governments amend Australian Design Rules, provide financial incentives to purchasers and leasers of electric trucks, and invest in charging infrastructure. 

The report, titled “Electric trucks: Keeping shelves stocked in a net zero world”,¹ opens by outlining some key facts about road freight transportation in Australia. Emissions from transport make up 19% of total emissions produced by the country every year. Although only 4% of all road vehicles in Australia are classed as heavy vehicles (i.e., all passenger- and goods-carrying automobiles with a gross vehicle mass above 3.5 tonnes), they perform 8% of road vehicle kilometres travelled and account for 23% of all road transport fuel consumed. The road freight sector is estimated to contribute 38% of all emissions produced by transportation.