Australia’s first low-zero emission market update

TIC Chief Technical Officer Mark Hammond and curator of T-Mark, the industry’s truck market sales data base for heavy vehicles, said that the report heralds the evolution of the heavy vehicle market in Australia with new technologies now being introduced, and it provides clarity on the actual sales of low zero emission vehicles in one report.

Low and zero 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 and zero emission fleet in Australia,” said Mr Hammond. “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,” he added.

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 low and zero emission heavy vehicle take up exist, such as range and payload limitations, high capital cost, lack of charging/refuelling infrastructure, and no clear understanding of the future Road User Charging (RUC) costing model,” Mr Hammond said.

The Low Zero Emission Truck Market Update Report can be found on the Truck Industry Council’s website under the Downloads tab.