After over seven months, 6,000km and more than 5,200kWh, this video is part of the first news published about Linfox’s real world electric truck experience.
The first electric Volvo truck on Australian roads is working in Linfox’s beverage delivery fleet in Melbourne and it has got the tick of approval from its first driver.
Rob Smith has been driving trucks for Linfox for over 17 years and currently operates out of the BevChain Distribution Centre in Melbourne’s outer west.
“I love the freedom of the job, and meeting people,” says Rob. “The truck itself is actually quite peaceful to drive, in some ways it’s just like any other truck but in others it’s smoother, quieter, it’s enjoyable.”
“When I hop out of the truck, I don’t hear engine noise and I don’t have the fumes, none of that. You get a lot more eye contact on the road as people look at it. It’s great, I get a lot of questions.
“Everyone wants to know where the batteries are, people are very interested in the lack of noise and how far it goes, is it good to drive, things like that.”
The Volvo FL Electric he drives operates across a variety of routes across the city delivering Victoria Bitter and other Asahi Beverages beer to pubs, restaurants and bottle shops on a daily basis. As a driver, Smith clearly enjoys his days behind the wheel of the electric Volvo as well as the job at hand.
“Linfox is thrilled to see this new electric vehicle inspiring positive conversations as we lead the way in sustainable transport,” said Peter Fox Linfox Executive Chairman. “The benefits are coming to life right throughout our community.
“Our skilled drivers are at the wheel of a new age; our customers are enjoying more sustainable logistics solutions and people on our streets are starting to see the everyday benefits of zero emission vehicles.”
“You can’t get a much better voice of authority than the end user of the product,” says Paul Illmer, Volvo Group Australia’s Vice President, Emerging Technologies. “We can continue to point out the real-world benefits of zero emissions vehicles, but it’s ultimately the people that interact with this vehicle on a daily basis that will help educate others to their advantages.
“A smooth drivetrain, lack of fumes and noise create a calmer work environment, but it’s also the flow-on benefits to society as a whole that will drive towards a future of cleaner, quieter cities. This truck represents the thin end of the wedge on our zero emissions journey in Australia, and that journey is accelerating faster than many can imagine.”
