CMV Group is taking a candid, ground-level approach to accelerating Australia’s shift to zero-emission transport, according to Joe Di Santo, who presented this week at the Alternative Fuel Summit.
Di Santo provided a behind-the-scenes look at how CMV Group assesses, qualifies and supports the rollout of electric trucks and why a disciplined, data-driven process is essential for both buyers and suppliers.
Di Santo, who has been involved in the development and introduction of emerging technologies and alternative fuels in Australia for seven years, said the market has reached a point where electric trucks are absolutely happening.
He pointed to landmark orders from Ikea, Toll, Cleanaway, Dubbo Waste and others, describing these fleets as early proof of operators who really understand the opportunities and future potential of battery-electric adoption.
Momentum alone, however, is not enough, he said. Successful electrification requires rigorous assessment and transparent communication.
“We don’t want to sell a problem,” said Di Santo. “We have to sell a solution. A 540kWh battery means nothing if the customer can’t charge it.”
Every electric truck project at CMV Group is built around two fundamentals: mitigating risk and ensuring commercial viability.
A key component of that risk-mitigation strategy is Volvo’s factory-level validation.
CMV submits customer route data, vehicle requirements and topography information to Sweden, where Volvo engineers determine whether the intended application is viable.
“If Sweden says no, it’s a no,” said Di Santo. “Regardless of whether we want to sell the truck or the customer wants to buy it.”
Commercial viability is assessed through CMV’s internal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator, which compares diesel and BEV inputs, energy pricing and expected utilisation, providing fleets with a formal, board-ready justification for investment.
Di Santo unveiled CMV Group’s most ambitious engagement initiative to date, the Power Up program which is a hands-on demonstration fleet of eight electric Volvos available to operators across Victoria and South Australia until June 2026.
The program allows fleets to run a vehicle for four-to-five days under real-world conditions – an essential step, he said, for understanding both operational fit and cultural change.
“There’s nothing more powerful than getting your backside into the truck,” said Di Santo. “Drivers, fleet managers, CEOs, everyone needs to experience it.”
The fleet will span various configurations, giving operators practical insight into duty cycles, energy consumption and driver acceptance.
CMV Group has formalised a partnership with Jet Charge as its preferred charging-infrastructure provider, ensuring fleets receive end-to-end support beyond the truck itself.
“Selling the truck is almost the last step,” said Di Santo. “Grid assessments, battery storage and fleet-scale charging systems require expertise. We need partners who are masters of that circular economy.”
He cited Volvo’s eight-year warranty program as another cornerstone of risk mitigation, offering customers long-term coverage that is rare in the heavy-vehicle market.
Di Santo asked operators to recognise the scale of opportunity ahead, finishing on a quote from Steve Jobs on the importance of visionary planning and invoking legendary VFL coach John Kennedy’s ‘Don’t think. Do’.
“The trucks are here, and the business opportunities are here,” he said. “Let’s support each other to make informed, confident decisions about the transition to zero-emission transport.”
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