Auckland-based Reliance Transport has taken delivery of the country’s first two battery-powered Scania 25P trucks.
Since their launch in June, the trucks have under-gone livery and road readiness prep for use by Reliance Transport. The vehicles are suited to short- to medium-haul journeys with a 29-tonne GCW and range of up to 180km. They are used exclusively for transporting last-mile freight in the Auckland metropolitan area, carting containers and steel products around Auckland’s port and freight networks.
“That long-term view and focus was certainly the main motivation for purchasing the BEVs. I’ve made a few trips to Europe, China and USA investigating alternative fuel and sustainable transport options and the Scania BEVs suited our needs the best. We intend adding more to the fleet as resources permit,” says Mark Darrah, Reliance Transport director.
The BEVs were co-funded by the government’s Low Emission Transport Fund. Their purchase
represents the third stage of Reliance Transports’ Project Switch – a five stage, multi-year, business-wide journey to ‘carbon zero’ and sustainable practices.
“This current third stage is a multi-phase programme that will see our diesel powered heavy-truck and fork-hoist fleet replaced with zero-emission battery electric vehciles,” says Darrah.
“We’re already offsetting current carbon emissions by achieving Toitū (Environmental Management) Carbon Zero accreditation, and by investing in additional carbon credits.”
The Scania 25Ps come with the option of either five or nine batteries – totalling 165kWh or 300kWh installed capacity respectively. The new electric motor delivers a continuous power of 230kW (310hp). The motor has two gears to provide high power over a wider speed span and the vehicles also include optional emission-free operation for both hydraulics and refrigeration units.
Scania New Zealand managing director Rafael Alvarenga, says the trucks represent a genuine factory-led solution to sustainable transport in New Zealand by Scania.
“Scania NZ is as serious in its commitment to building a battery electric truck fleet in Aotearoa as our customers are about acquiring them. Acquiring an electric truck is not just an investment in a customer’s fleet, but also in their brand and market. An electric truck enables the customer to stay ahead of the competition, learn about infrastructural challenges and start adapting for the future.”
