The transition into a zero-emissions fleet is driving forward with the announcement of the City of Newcastle’s first electric truck.
Replacing a diesel vehicle used by the City of Newcastle’s Parks and Recreation team, the medium rigid Hino truck is the first of its kind.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the new electric truck was a part of a Fleet Transition Plan aiming for zero emissions from 100 per cent of the City of Newcastle fleet by 2030.
“We are really pleased to see an electric truck added to our electric vehicle fleet … this is a really important step in terms of real action the city is taking to address climate change,” Cr Clausen said.
“This new truck will reduce the city’s carbon emissions by about 20 tonnes a year, helping to make a really sizeable dint in a large amount of fuel we currently use.
“Fossil-based liquid fuels such as diesel and unleaded petrol in City of Newcastle cars, trucks, waste fleet, plant and equipment account for more than 90 per cent of our remaining operational carbon emissions.”
The launch of the electric truck follows previous trials of electric vehicles within the fleet, including the replacement of four pool cars with full-electric passenger vehicles.
Cr Clausen said the City of Newcastle had adopted a plan that saw the elimination of carbon emissions in its operations over the next decade.
“The City of Newcastle is working to deliver the adopted Climate Action Plan 2021-2025, which sets out a roadmap for achieving emission reduction within CN operations,” he said.
“We are helping to support the community’s transition to electric vehicles as well with the development of a council-owned public electric vehicle charging network.”
The charging network includes seven chargers installed across four sites in Newcastle, providing 11 charging bays—additional sites are planned to be built this year.
Hayley McMahon