GEODIS has started a pilot program with Volvo for the first Fully Electric (FE) truck within the Australian market, for more sustainable freight forwarding in Australia.

The partnership will deploy Volvo’s FE model trucks, powered by both solar energy and energy-efficient charging systems. The Volvo FE truck is powered using the Swiss company, ABB’s, charging infrastructure, which accelerates charging and allows the vehicle to draw power from existing solar infrastructure.

GEODIS will assess factors, including the driving range, and the suitability for heavy loads of up to 7,500 kilograms to be transported across 200-kilometre ranges within metropolitan areas via FE trucks, before committing to a larger-scale roll-out across its fleet in Australia.

With the support of Volvo Australia’s e-mobility team, GEODIS has upskilled its drivers with electric-vehicle training and designed holistic route and load planning processes to get the most efficient use of the assets. Partners like Goodman Group were also brought on board to install solar panels and charging infrastructure across GEODIS facilities, paving the way for the further electrification of the GEODIS fleet.

Sustainability

The full integration of these trucks into GEODIS’ Australian fleet is set to completely remove fine particles and nitrogen oxide, in addition to ensuring a 95 per cent reduction in direct carbon emissions, compared to existing diesel vehicles performing the same function.

GEODIS has also been ramping up the implementation of other low-carbon transport systems, including building efficient, multimodal transport networks – that tap into the use of rail, short sea shipping, and inland waterways – and fully optimise the volume and payload of fleets. GEODIS has also launched its Sustainable Fuel Program worldwide, which aims to accelerate the use of alternative and renewable fuels, including marine fuels, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.