Electric trucks and charging in Australia: A growing opportunity

Electric trucks are rapidly growing in fleet size as a more sustainable alternative to traditional diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks. In Australia, where heavy-duty vehicles contribute significantly to CO2 emissions from road transport, the transition to electric trucks is crucial for meeting sustainability targets and reducing environmental impacts. However, battery capacity remains a limiting factor, slowing the widespread adoption of electric trucks for long-haul operations.

Australia’s commitment to expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure has accelerated, with the Australian government and private sectors investing heavily in charging solutions. As of mid-2024, there were almost 3,000 public EV charging stations across the country, including more than 1000 fast-charging sites – it’s a 90% increase in high-power charging locations compared to the previous year. This expansion supports both passenger vehicles and electric trucks, helping to create the infrastructure necessary for the electrification of the Australian transport sector. 

The need for electric trucks is particularly pressing in Australia, where the road freight sector is a major source of pollution. Although heavy trucks make up only 4% of all vehicles, they contribute a massive 38% of transport emissions. Without action, emissions from freight trucks are expected to rise to 22 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.

Another challenge is Australia’s aging truck fleet. The average truck is 10-15 years-old, much older than in countries like Germany or France, where most truck are under 10-years-old. Older trucks use more fuel and create more pollution, making the transition to electric even more urgent.

There is already a big opportunity to introduce electric trucks, especially in cities, where 30-40% of all road freight is moved. Demand for freight transport in cities like Brisbane and Perth is also expected to double by 2030, making cleaner transport solutions even more critical.

Australia has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, but this won’t be possible without cutting emissions road transport. To meet climate targets, the last diesel and petrol-powered trucks will need to be phased out by 2040. Expanding EV infrastructure now will make this transition smoother, helping businesses lower costs, improving air quality, and making Australia’s transport sector more sustainable.

Challenges to widespread adoption 

Despite these advancements, widespread adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks in Australia faces certain barriers, one of the most significant being range, meaning the distance an EV can travel on a single charge. However, for many urban and regional routes, electric trucks already provide sufficient range, reducing concerns over long-distance travel. Furthermore, as the market for electric trucks develops, more specialized charging infrastructure for trucks will be required. 

While there has been significant investment in electric truck charging infrastructure, challenges remain in connecting these stations to the grid. The technical and logistical issues surrounding grid connection can cause delays in the rollout of charging networks. These barriers include the capacity of local grids to handle the additional power demand, as well as the cost and complexity of upgrading infrastructure in remote or underserved areas. Despite these hurdles, efforts are underway to expand the charging network, and overcoming these challenges will be key to supporting the widespread adoption of electric trucks across Australia. 

Electric truck charging scenarios in Australia 

 Electric truck charging in Australia follows similar principles to those seen in Europe but with a growing focus on addressing the unique needs of the Australian transport sector. The key charging scenarios are: 

Overnight charging: This is a common practice for fleet owners, who charge their electric trucks overnight using lower DC power (50-100 kW). This method works well for trucks that remain at depots overnight, allowing 6-8 hours for charging and is already supported by logistic operators who are expanding sustainability initiatives across the country. 
Destination charging: Trucks that need to recharge during their routes can utilize idle times for recharging during loading and unloading at logistics centres and warehouses. With 150-400 kW chargers in place, the charging time can vary between 30 minutes to 2 hours, making it suitable for regional and long-haul routes.
On-the-move charging: This method, which involves high-power charging along highways and urban nodes, will be necessary for long-distance truck operations. Australia’s EV charging plans include ultra-fast charging solutions to support these on-the-move needs. Since regulatory driver breaks are often utilized for charging, the available window is sometimes so short that only power over a megawatt will meet the demands of electric trucks in the future, precipitating the need for Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS). With interoperability testing between charging hardware manufacturers and OEMs already being conducted, the first MCS capable vehicles are expected on the roads within the next two years.

Stages of electric truck adoption  

Electric truck adoption is occurring in stages, with different levels of progress for each: 

Stage one: Local & Regional Trips. Currently, the most significant adoption is in local travel. Trucks in this category are typically rigid vehicles with enough range to cover daily distances. They often use private overnight charging at depots (50-100 kW), but there is an increasing need for destination charging at logistics centres to support longer journeys. As the electric truck fleets continue to grow, expanding charging infrastructure will be essential to accommodate higher demand and ensure seamless operations.
Stage two: Mid-Haul Trips. As we move towards mid-haul journeys, there is an increase in the electrification of articulated trucks. Public charging stations are becoming more widespread, and government incentives are helping accelerate adoption. Charging stations will soon offer higher power options (500 kW or more) at urban locations. 
Stage three: Long-Haul Trips. For long-haul journeys, full truck electrification is still in development. This stage will require highly integrated charging infrastructure, with automated processes at logistics centres and along highways. Public overnight charging stations and government support will play a key role in making long-haul electrification feasible.  Additionally, the necessity for chargepoint reservations will become increasingly important to facilitate long-haul electrification at scale in the future, ensuring that trucks can plan and access charging points efficiently during extended routes.

Why electric trucks are a smart investment in Australia 

Trucking operators are seeing more enquiries from customers and businesses to reduce emissions as part of sustainability goals.

Electric trucks are an economic opportunity for trucking operators if it is done right. As the primary freight means in Australia, reducing costs associated with ownership and operation of electric trucks, will allow for reduced costs passed down to the end customer.

The Australian government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is supporting the transition to electric trucks with programs like “Driving the Nation”, which provides AUS$500 million to invest in cheaper and cleaner transport, including grants for both electric truck deployment and charging infrastructure.

In addition to the benefits of government subsidies, while electric trucks tend to have a higher initial cost than diesel-powered vehicles, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric trucks is expected to reach parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks within the next decade. In fact, some regions have already seen TCO parity for electric trucks. 

The current policy landscape in Australia concerning electric trucks is a work in progress and we can look to other parts of the world, such as Europe, to see how these policies can be developed effectively to enable sustainable transport with electric trucks.

The global push for cleaner mobility, driven by regulations and initiatives like those from the EU, is accelerating the adoption of electric trucks. These trucks have zero tailpipe emissions, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel trucks. The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates the deployment of electric truck charging stations every 60 km along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) core network by 2030.

Key benefits of electric trucks that contribute to reducing TCO include: 

Lower fuel costs 
Reduced maintenance expenses 
Government incentives 
Exemptions from road tolls

Looking ahead: The future of electric trucks in Australia 

The electrification of heavy-duty transport is a necessary step toward a more sustainable future in Australia. However, there’s a catch: without reliable charging infrastructure, it’s difficult to get more electric trucks on the road. Similarly, without enough electric trucks, it’s hard to justify investments in charging stations. 

The solution is to develop a widespread, reliable charging network across Australia. Once such infrastructure is in place, fleet owners will feel more confident in switching to electric trucks, leading to faster adoption.

The Australian government’s strong support the electric trucks creates the perfect opportunities for CPOs and fleet operators to invest in charging for electric trucks, and to follow the model set out by Norway’s success.

Kempower’s fast-charging solutions are already helping to power both depots and public charging stations for electric trucks across Europe. Further, Kempower has delivered first MCS pilots in Europe, leading the development of this technology among others. As the industry progresses, similar advancements will be crucial to accelerating the transition to electric trucks in Australia and beyond.

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