In a move to help accelerate the shift to electric vehicles in Western Australia, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has rolled out over $21.8 million for three projects through the Driving the Nation Program.
The recipients of the funding include Centurion, Patrick Terminals, and to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA).
Centurion, an industrial freight provider, received $15.8 million to roll out 30 battery-electric trucks and 15 chargers at its Hazelmere depot. The goal is to create a $29 million off-grid truck fleet powered by renewable energy.
Justin Cardaci, CEO of Centurion, highlighted the importance of the project: “This project represents a significant step in Centurion’s decarbonisation journey and continues our work towards an operational future with net zero emissions.”
Patrick Terminals, a container operator, received $2.5 million to deploy nine battery-electric terminal trucks and two fast chargers at Fremantle Port. This marks the first use of battery-electric vehicles for continuous operations in the industry.
Michael Jovicic, CEO of Patrick Terminals, expressed excitement about the initiative: “The introduction of electric terminal equipment at our Fremantle operations is an exciting initiative that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing capital in our Fremantle terminal to support longevity of port operations whilst also aligning with our commitment to decarbonising our operations.”
ARENA also granted $3.5 million to the WALGA, aiming to introduce 129 electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for 22 local government fleets.
Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA, emphasised the significance of these projects: “These three projects demonstrate a variety of vehicles and use cases for EVs, including industries that have previously proved challenging to reduce vehicle emissions.”
Meanwhile, Europcar Mobility Group, a major rental industry player, secured $4.76 million for the Electric Rental Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Rollout project. This will support installing 256 chargers at 41 sites nationwide, helping Europcar introduce 3100 electric rentals over the next three years.
Benoit Garel, Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at Europcar Mobility Group, expressed excitement about the project: “Europcar is proud to be leading the charge in the transformation of Australia’s rental car industry toward a sustainable, electric future.”
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