Holcim Australia and FMD to trial electric concrete truck

A Foton battery-electric truck is planned to undergo a rigorous six-month trial by Holcim Australia at a remote mine site near Port Hedland, in Western Australia. The ready-mix concrete distribution truck will operate in extreme conditions, enabling both parties to test its viability, reliability and performance.

Cyril Giraud, Head of Sustainability at Holcim Australia and New Zealand said the trial underlined the firm’s commitment to sustainability.

“The initiative is aligned to Holcim’s global Accelerating Green Growth strategy,” he said.

“It serves as a local example of Holcim’s commitment to investing in zero-emissions vehicles, thereby helping to reduce environmental impacts while delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers.”

If the trial truck is successful and approved under Australian Design Rules (ADR) for public road use, it paves the way for Holcim to deliver its ECOPact low-carbon concrete products more sustainably, further assisting its customers to achieve their own climate targets.

“By replacing one diesel concrete truck with an EV we will eliminate approximately 42 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year,” said Mr Giraud.

“This equates to a fuel cost saving in excess of $33,000 per annum, before further savings…via lower service and maintenance costs.”

For its part, FMD (Foton Mobility Distribution) plans to gain valuable insights into the performance of its larger zero-emissions trucks.

“Working with the Holcim team has been extremely enjoyable and very educational, helping us to better understand our customers’ requirements,” said Neil Wang, FMD’s CEO.

“We are looking forward to a successful trial in the harshest operating conditions in Australia and to the valuable operational data that will enable further improvements to be made to our products.

“The introduction of the Foton EV concrete truck to the Australian market in this trial is the forerunner of … new and exciting Foton New Energy vehicles which will be introduced in 2024, in support of the transition to Net Zero.

“We look forward to assisting Holcim in its Accelerating Green Growth Strategy.”