Australian zero emissions road freight operator New Energy Transport (NET) has taken delivery of its first Volvo FH Electric prime mover, with consumer goods giant Unilever signing on as the company’s foundation customer for electric heavy road freight operations in Sydney.
The truck was handed over at a ceremony on Sydney Harbour and is the first of 11 Volvo electric trucks NET plans to deploy over the next 12 months.
The vehicle has entered commercial service immediately, transporting consumer goods from Unilever’s distribution centre at Ingleburn to customer sites across Sydney on weekday delivery routes.
The truck is also the first to operate under a Volvo Financial Services arrangement supported by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), aimed at reducing the cost of leasing heavy electric trucks in Australia.
The announcement follows NET’s recently unveiled Rapid Deployment Plan, backed by an initial A$5 million equity raise, to place 20 electric trucks and six mobile charging units on Australian roads before the end of 2026.
NET co-chief executive Fredrik Pehrsson says the partnership marks an important milestone for electric freight.
“New Energy Transport is proud to be partnering with Unilever and Volvo to make electric heavy road freight a reality in Australia. This is a major milestone as we take the keys to our first truck and bring our first customer onto the road.
“Volvo are pioneers in high-quality electric trucks, and their extensive service network also brings certainty on vehicle uptime for us and our customers. With Unilever on board, we couldn’t have asked for a better foundation customer.”
Pehrsson says the partnership demonstrates growing momentum behind freight decarbonisation.
“Electric road freight means lower costs, greater reliability and a real cut in emissions, and it’s brands like Unilever that will drive the shift at scale, decarbonising their supply chains while delivering greater efficiency.”
Unilever head of corporate affairs and sustainability Brooke Sprott says heavy freight is one of the company’s biggest decarbonisation challenges.
“Decarbonising heavy freight transport is one of the most complex challenges in our supply chain, and it’s not something any company can solve alone. That’s why we are proud to be a foundation partner of New Energy Transport and utilise their first heavy electric prime mover in Australia.”
Volvo Group executive vice-president and Volvo Trucks president Roger Alm says collaboration is helping accelerate the transition to lower-emission freight.
“This partnership with New Energy Transport shows how the transition to lower-emission transport is moving forward through collaboration. Volvo Trucks brings proven electric truck technology, Volvo Financial Services helps lower barriers to entry, and our dealer network supports customers wherever they operate.”
Volvo Group Australia president and chief executive Martin Merrick says the partnership combines a customer willing to adopt electric freight, an operator investing in new technology and an established truck manufacturer.
NET is developing what it describes as Australia’s first vertically integrated electric freight platform, centred on a planned heavy electric trucking depot at Wilton in New South Wales.
The depot, which has been recognised as a project of national significance under the Australian Government’s Investor Front Door programme, is expected to open in late 2027 with capacity for 50 trucks, expanding to 200 over time.
The company is also planning a network of electric freight depots linking Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane by 2031.
