Volvo and JJ’s will combine in the pursuit of finding a suitable solution for electric trucks in the waste management industry
Heavy vehicle brand Volvo Trucks Australia has announced a new partnership with key waste management contractor JJ’s Waste and Recycling to trial the Volvo FE Electric truck in waste operations.
The Volvo model, affectionately named ‘Oscar’ by the Volvo Group Australia team, is a 6×2 FE Electric model that was showcased at Volvo’s Brisbane Truck Show stand this year.
The truck has been fitted with a rear loading, 16 cubic metre waste body suited for urban applications and ready for a three-month trial on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The trial will help provide both parties insight into the impact of electric trucks in terms of range and productivity.
“The electromobility and waste management really do go hand in hand,” Volvo Trucks Australia vice president Gary Bone says.
“The stop start nature of this application in densely populated urban areas should prove to be a promising zero-emissions solution for our cities.
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“I look forward to seeing the results of this trial which will prove invaluable as we continue on our decarbonisation journey.”
Bone says recent battery technology developments have seen significant increases in both range and charging performance of electric trucks.
The FE Electric has a potential payload of up to seven tonnes depending on body positioning and the corresponding front axle load.
“This is the perfect opportunity for us to understand how we can decarbonise our fleet over time,” JJ’s Waste and Recycling operations manager Joe Branagan says.
“Clearly we can’t just switch to electric overnight, so partnerships like this one with Volvo are vital to see what applications we can put electric trucks to work in now as well as in the future.
“I will be watching the outcome of this exercise with great interest!”