The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Social Services
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and Minister for Social Services and local MP Tanya Plibersek today opened Australia's first off-site electric truck charging hub in Alexandria, backing cleaner, quieter and lower-emissions deliveries for households and businesses.
Developed by Zenobē and supported by the Albanese Government through ARENA's Driving the Nation program and finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the new hub will host 22 DC fast chargers for up to 44 light commercial trucks, with an initial fleet of 60 battery electric delivery trucks leased to Woolworths under an "Electric Vehicle as a Service" model.
As part of the project, Zenobē is bundling vehicles, charging, fleet management, software and maintenance into one service, helping close the total cost of ownership gap between electric trucks and diesel and making it easier for fleets to switch. The hub also uses a second-life stationary battery to support charging, cut operating costs over time and keep batteries in use for longer.
The hub will initially support Woolworths' electric delivery trucks, before opening up to additional fleet customers and logistics operators. It is a blueprint that can be replicated in other cities and freight precincts, helping accelerate the decarbonisation of commercial fleets nationwide.
ARENA's support for the project forms part of the Albanese Government's Driving the Nation program, which is delivering charging and refuelling infrastructure and supporting innovative heavy and light vehicle projects across Australia.
Alongside Zenobē, other Driving the Nation commitments being announced today include:
- ARENA is backing Flow Power with $18 million to roll out a network of ultra-fast charging stations across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, making it quicker and easier to charge on key commuter and freight routes.
- Essential Energy is receiving $2.3 million to install public EV chargers in rural and regional New South Wales, so drivers outside the big cities can also access reliable charging close to home, work and local services.
- UTS and Race for 2030 will receive more than $1 million to build Australia's first national Vehicle-Grid Network, bringing together more than 20 industry partners to show how electric vehicles can support the grid while giving drivers smarter, cheaper ways to charge.
Zenobē's project will provide real-world data on costs, charging patterns and operations, build skills in designing and running off-site truck charging, and demonstrate how second-life batteries and smart charging can reduce costs for fleet owners while easing pressure on the grid.
Comments from Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen
"Trucks keep our economy moving, but they are also a big and growing source of emissions and diesel pollution. Projects like this hub show we can keep deliveries running, while cleaning up the air in our cities and cutting emissions at the same time.
"By backing large-scale charging and innovative 'electric vehicle as a service' models, we are making it easier for businesses to get out of imported diesel, into Australian electrons and into vehicles that are cheaper to run and maintain over their life.
"This is the electricity system of the future in action, with renewables, smart software, batteries and vehicles all working together. While others argue about the transition, we are getting on with supporting practical projects that create jobs and cut emissions in places like inner-Sydney and freight corridors right across the country."
Comments from Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek
"This project shows what's possible when government and industry work together. By supporting innovation like this, we're creating a blueprint that can be replicated right across Australia.
"Sydney is leading the way with infrastructure that not only benefits our economy but will also improve the quality of life for everyone who lives and works here. We're delivering cleaner air, quieter streets, and reduced emissions in inner-Sydney."
