Sydney will soon see more electric trucks delivering its goods with the completion of the solar-powered Charge and Change Station at Moorebank Intermodal Precinct.
The facility gives electric trucks, produced by Janus Electric on the Central Coast, the ability to swap the 2m by 1.2m batteries for fully charged batteries and head off on their run.
The quick swap takes just four minutes – less time than it takes to refuel. The New South Wales Government said a truck with a single trailer can generally travel between 300km to 400km on a single battery, with battery swapping stations strategically located, to keep trucks on the move.
The State Government said it’s the first facility of its kind to be built at an intermodal terminal where freight is swapped between roads and rail. There are eight other Charge and Change stations across Australia, with more on the way.
The battery-swapping technology allows for the batteries to be powered by rooftop solar energy, minimising wait times for drivers and ready to be picked up by the next electric truck to visit the Charge and Change Station.
The investment in the new facility follows the New South Wales Government’s introduction of the Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy, which outlines government and industry actions that will reduce the carbon footprint of heavy vehicles and rail freight.
A key step in delivering the policy, extra-mass provisions for access to state roads, means electric trucks can be used across the state without sacrificing cargo quantities.
New modelling shows freight transport and logistics contributed an estimated $74.3 billion to New South Wales in 2022–23, with the sector predicted to grow to an estimated $131.5 billion by 2060–61.
The State Government said the freight transport and logistics sector provides more than 330,000 full time jobs, which could grow as high as 565,000 by 2060–61.
As the freight sector continues to grow, the New South Wales Government said it will keep working with industry to ensure it embraces new technology to continue growing sustainably.
New South Wales Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, said freight demand is projected to rise by 34 per cent across New South Wales from 2021 to 2061.
“We’re going to need more capacity, not less, which is why we’re working on a plan with the freight industry to get us to net zero.”
Ms Haylen said many freight operators are natural innovators and are already investing in low emission technologies.
“The New South Wales Government’s Zero Emissions Freight Policy means that the government is supporting industry and helping them invest in new and exciting technologies across the state and at key freight centres like Moorebank.”
Janus Electric CEO, Lex Forsyth, said launching the solar-powered Charge and Change Station is a crucial step towards a cleaner, greener future for Australia’s transport sector.
“Our Charge and Change Stations enable quick battery swaps for electric trucks, providing a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional refuelling methods.”
