In November 2023, staff hired a fully electric truck from Loadex Hire for a period of four weeks to put the vehicle through its paces for regular Council activities.
The truck is a Foton I-Blue tipper truck which comes with its own charge cable to plug into a three-phase power outlet, so Council does not need to install a special charger for the trial. The Photon is also able to be driven on a regular car license.
As the price of diesel fuel continues to increase, the business case for electric vehicles is improving but there is a challenge with the up-front cost being higher, despite lower operating costs. Leasing or hiring provides a solution that may be well suited to meet short term needs.
The hired Foton has been loaded up with a trailer and mowing equipment for Council’s Horticulture Team, with staff evaluating its performance. Our team and the community have also expressed an interest in finding out more about the raw materials and supply chains to produce the vehicles, and battery recycling, so we have provided some resources on the topic at https://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/services/climate-emergency.
To date the truck has met all requirements for our Horticulture team regarding driving and towing. It is much quieter for our crews and for the community. Recharging is required every three to four days and the vehicle charges up overnight. which aligns with expectations for the localised nature of Council activities.
Council has set an aspirational goal of purchasing only electric heavy vehicles by 2030. Upon the conclusion of this trial council will be better informed towards making its decisions in transitioning to electric vehicles for its operations.
