This week’s news has given us four things to think about, with a clash between SEA and the Victorian Government, safety excellence, new trucks set to launch and a new face at the HVIA.
SEA Electric vs Victorian Government
Emails obtained by The Saturday Paper under freedom of information laws, and published over the weekend, show how the relationship between SEA Electric and the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), which oversaw a grant’s execution, broke down.
The issues arose over the planned government funding for an 20,000-square-metre assembly plant for electric trucks in the Latrobe Valley, as the local mining operations were closing and targeting former coal workers.
The released emails show a frustrated Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric CEO, pushing hard to get the funds in place. Released emails from the government side suggest the reason for non-payment was because of an issue around the grants being used to pay off other company debts.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed in [not] being able to give something back to Victoria in the form of the Latrobe Valley facility,” says a later Fairweather email. “We will ensure provision from the pending US investment is allocated to repay the States investment to-date.”
Scania Award
Scania Australia has been presented with the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia 2022 Award for Safety Innovation. The Award recognises the foresight Scania has put in to preparing all levels of its business to deal safely with battery electric vehicle (BEV) systems and components, which are to be a part of its future product line-up.
The training involves all staff from cleaning contractors to the executive management team, and is naturally focussed on ensuring there are no incidents involving electrical shocks at its company-owned workshops, and those of its authorised independent dealer network.
“The training we have undertaken and continue to undertake ensures everyone knows how to be safe around batteries and BEVs in general,” says Scania Australia Managing Director, Manfred Streit.
S-Way on its Way
Iveco in Australia reports that it is now in the final stages of local validation and testing of the new S-Way range, which has seen several models in rigid, single trailer and B-Double configuration travel the country under full working conditions, accumulating thousands of kilometres. As part of the program B-Double variants also operated for extended periods at full 70t GCM to ensure the reliability and robustness of the vehicles.
Available in the S-WAY line-up are 4×2 and 6×4 prime movers and rigids in 6×2, 6×4 and 8×4 configurations. Three Euro 6-rated engines will be offered across the line-up with five output options, delivering power and torque that spans from 340hp (251kW) and 1400Nm to 550hp (419kW) and 2500Nm.
The HI-TRONIX AMT in 12 and 16-speed guise will be part of the package, with other features including anti-idling capabilities and ECO MODE PLUS, functions that reduce fuel use.
New Chief Technical Officer
Adam Ritzinger has been appointed as the new Chief Technical Officer at the HVIA, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge as an experienced and accomplished mechanical engineer embedded in Australia’s heavy vehicle transport industry. He is a passionate trucking and transport enthusiast who understands trucks, the regulations they operate under, and the stakeholders that influence the transport industry at all levels.
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