Network operator Transgrid is leading the acceleration of the renewable energy future and investing in a trial of the first dual-cab electric ute released in Australia.
Each year Transgrid’s fleet of 400 diesel commercial vehicles and 28 passenger vehicles collectively travel more than 14 million kilometres.
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More than half of the passenger fleet is already fully electric or hybrid and this week Transgrid received its first 2023 LDV eT60 electric ute for the start of in-depth field testing.
Transgrid Fleet Manager Ryan Thomas said the NSW trial will put the vehicle to the test to see if it meets operational requirements on the 13,000km transmission network.
“We’ll be gauging the impacts for our people working in the field, including charging and towing requirements, so we can better understand the issues that will make the transition to electric utes as seamless as possible,” he said.
The LDV eT60 double-cab ute has a 130kW/310Nm electric motor and 88.5kWh battery pack.
“We expect the electric utes will deliver operational savings for Transgrid, including around a 50 % reduction in our fuel costs.
“EV servicing also has advantages, with the average Electric Vehicle having 20 moving parts in its drive train, while its diesel equivalent has over 2,000. When you have a fleet that covers millions of kilometres each year, these numbers are important to help keep costs down for customers,” Thomas said.
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Transgrid CEO Brett Redman said the trial is another example of how Transgrid is embracing innovation.
“This is a great opportunity to look at how we work and find alternatives that support emerging technology. Just like we use aerial drone technology to inspect towers, reducing the need of our people to use heavy elevated work platforms, shifting to electric vehicles will benefit the community, our customers, and the environment,” he said.
