Battle for milk
OPINION: Fonterra may be on the verge of selling its consumer business in New Zealand, but the co-operative is not keen on giving any ground to its competitors in the country.
The new truck, delivered in partnership with Volvo Trucks New Zealand and the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA), will deliver consumer products from the co-op’s Takanini plant to customers across metropolitan areas.
This truck is the second electric truck in Fonterra’s metro distribution fleet for its Oceania business, meeting the operational needs of the business while also reducing emissions.
Rob Howell, director of operations and supply chain Oceania Fonterra, says the new electric truck represents an important step in Fonterra’s sustainability journey.
"Our objective is to be a leader in sustainability while prioritising our commitment to delivering healthy dairy nutrition to consumers around the motu (country).
“We are working hard to reduce emissions across our supply chain. Working towards an electric fleet is another step in our journey partnering with Volvo Trucks New Zealand and EECA, providing access to the best technology to allow us to continue to make progress towards our climate ambitions," he says.
Fonterra recently announced the sale of its consumer businesses to Lactalis: the deal includes the Oceania business and the Takanini plant.
Read More:
- Fonterra announces electrification plans
- Driving change within Fonterra fleet
- Fonterra focuses on emissions
Scott Holt, general manager for Volvo Trucks New Zealand, says the electric truck marks an important juncture – the start of the real-world use and testing of this type of EV technology in a medium refrigerated truck application.
“In order for New Zealand to transition to low carbon fleets, we need leaders like Fonterra to continue to have the courage to break new ground so that others feel they can also follow, with validation of performance and local support, all while achieving critical sustainability goals.”
The Volvo FE Electric Truck, equipped with a 256-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offers an estimated range of up to 200km on a single charge. Its refrigerated body provides 14 deck spaces, enabling transport for over 400 crates in a single delivery.
The e-truck is expected to deliver more than 1.6 million litres of dairy products over the next year.
