Australian e-mobility company SEA Electric has announced this week a partnership with local energy retailer EnergyAustralia to accelerate the electrification transition for the nation’s truck fleets.
The partnership will see the two companies work together to provide SEA Electric customers with tailored solutions for their energy needs including customised advice on depot development, EV charging infrastructure, retail contracts, as well as rooftop solar, batteries, and energy management software solutions.
“When you get your electric truck from SEA Electric, you need a way to charge it,” said Jack Kotlyar, EnergyAustralia’s Head of NextGen. “This is where EnergyAustralia can help, providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure for your depot.
“Plus, we can provide expert advice on a range of other aspects which involve unique considerations in the case of e-fleets, including fleet routes, grid connection, retail contracts and solar/batteries.
“And all our solutions are implemented in a safe, zero-harm way for our people and environment.”
EnergyAustralia believes that by providing electrification road maps for fleets and transport depots they can demonstrate that transitioning to zero carbon is achievable today.
SEA Electric, on the other hand, has already made a name for itself as a world leading supplier of all-electric trucks and buses, with products already deployed across five continents and, all told, having completed over 2 million kilometres of successful usage since 2017.
Manufactured and assembled in Melbourne, SEA Electric produces a range of electric trucks ranging from 4.5-tonne car license models through to 22.5-tonne three-axle rigids.
“SEA Electric is proud to partner with EnergyAustralia as we build our all-encompassing ecosystem of products and partners across the country,” said Bill Gillespie, SEA Electric president of the Asia Pacific Region.
“While we are experts in producing commercial vehicles that are fit for purpose, EnergyAustralia are the specialists in providing the best possible advice when it comes to energy supply solutions.
“By understanding a business’s energy needs, now and into the future, EnergyAustralia can provide an appropriate plan that will ensure there is adequate energy to power an entire fleet of EVs, with the right charging and energy transmission infrastructure in place.”
SEA Electric also highlighted in the announcement the long-term and multi-faceted value of transitioning from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.
“For example, from an operational perspective, lower maintenance and running costs are a given, with the elimination of diesel consumption and fewer moving parts minimises service costs and downtime,” said Gillespie.
“Our users can expect to recover any purchase price premium within a maximum of five years.
“Ultimately, the strategic partnership aims to provide certainty on both energy costs, and the green credentials of the energy that is used.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.