Sustainable building solutions business Holcim has announced it has entered into an agreement with Foton Mobility Distribution (FMD), the Australian distributor of Foton vehicles, to trial the Foton e-AUMAN C EV concrete truck in Australia.
The Foton electric truck will soon begin a six-month trial by Holcim Australia at a remote mine site near Western Australia’s Port Hedland.
The trial will expose the truck to extreme operating conditions and will enable both parties to test the truck’s viability, reliability and performance under unique operating requirements of ready-mix concrete distribution.
“The initiative is aligned to Holcim’s global Accelerating Green Growth strategy,” Holcim Australia and New Zealand head of sustainability Cyril Giraud says.
“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 proves the truck is successful and approved under Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for public road use, the trial will pave the way for Holcim to deliver its ECOPact low-carbon concrete products more sustainably to help customers achieve their climate targets.
“By replacing one diesel concrete truck with an EV, we will eliminate approximately 42 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each and every year,” Giraud says.
“This equates to a fuel cost saving in excess of $33,000 per annum before further savings are extracted via lower service and maintenance costs.”
From its side of the trial, FMD will gain valuable insights into how its larger zero-emissions truck models performs after already being a major player in the electric light duty truck sector.
“Working with the Holcim team has been extremely enjoyable and very educational, helping us to better understand our customers’ requirements,” FMD CEO Neil Wang says.
“We’re 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 via this trial is the forerunner of a number of new and exciting Foton New Energy vehicles that will be introduced in 2024 to support the transition to net zero.”
Giraud says this trial for Holcim is accelerating its green growth for people and the planet. Over the past year, Holcim has been actively working towards decarbonising its fleet operations by conducting trials on battery-powered heavy vehicles.
“For us, building progress means providing low-carbon products and reducing our operational impact on the environment,” Giraud says.
“Working together with Foton, we’re providing our customers with more options to help decarbonise the built environment.”