The Truck Industry Council (TIC) has today announced the release of its inaugural report into the Zero Low Emission Vehicle (ZLEV) truck market in Australia.
TIC is the industry body and advocacy voice for Australian truck manufacturers and importers, heavy vehicle engine companies and major component suppliers to Government.
Its members act for 17 truck brands currently on sale in Australia representing 99% of all new truck sales above 4.5 tonne GVM.
TIC Chief Technical Officer Mark Hammond and curator of T-Mark, the industry’s truck market sales data base for heavy vehicle says the report heralds the evolution of the heavy vehicle market in Australia with new technologies now being introduced and provides clarity on the actual sales of low zero emission vehicles in one report.
Zero and low emission new truck sales up until September this year total 259 vehicles, of which 94 were battery electric and 165 were hybrid electric vehicles. For the whole of last year, out of a total of 44,379 trucks sold, a record year in terms of new truck sales, 27 of these vehicles were battery electric and 72 were hybrid electric vehicles.
“Although 2023 has seen an impressive growth of low and zero emission truck sales, it also highlights that there is a long way to go to achieve a low/zero emission fleet in Australia. The proof of success will be determined if these sales figures can be sustained into 2024 and beyond. Tracking these sales is the purpose of this new report,” Hammond says.
The report further notes that while all truck manufacturers and importers are experiencing increased enquiries the decision to purchase a vehicle is ultimately a business decision requiring operator confidence.
Barriers to faster zero and low emission heavy vehicle take up exist, such as range and payload limitations, capital cost, lack of charging/refuelling infrastructure, and no clear understanding of the future Road User Charging (RUC) costing model, Mr Hammond said.
The Zero and Low Emission Truck Market Update Report can be found on the Truck Industry Council’s website.
