Transport telematics software company Teletrac Navman discussed Team Global Express (TGE)’s large-scale electric vehicle trial on the sixth episode of their podcast, Mobilising the Future of Fleets.
The podcast, which launched in May, explores different aspects of the trucking industry’s future as sustainability becomes an increasing focal point for the sector.
TGE, one of Australia’s largest transport and logistics operators, was represented on the podcast by Heather Bone, the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance director. TGE is considered a pioneer in this industry-wide sustainability push, having started trialling a fleet of 60 electric vehicle (EV) trucks from its Bungarribee depot in 2022.
Bone discussed the state of the trial after its two years in operation.
“All of the infrastructure is in,” she said.
“We have all of the truck’s chargers. We have 51 out of 60 trucks, and the rest are coming over in the next six weeks or so.”
While heralded as a successful trial so far, Bone admits that the project has come with an array of challenges, from consolidating planning on such a large-scale to alleviating the concerns of fleet drivers who were new to EVs, and even some unforeseen risks involved in undertaking a new task.
“I think our risk profile now is completely different to when we went through our risk planning at the start,” she said.
“What we often experienced were issues that didn’t relate to the trucks or chargers; there would be software failures. I think it’s hard to imagine how deeply ingrained the software is in this whole package.”
Despite these material setbacks, Bone and TGE persisted, even building up a reliable team of truck drivers who were previously inexperienced with EVs.
“It’s been an amazing journey with our drivers, they’re honestly incredibly supportive,” she told Barney Goffer, Teletrac Navman Product Manager.
An integral aspect of the trial’s success was the management of the fleet’s drivers, whose experience with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles had ingrained a driving behaviour that did not consider energy conservation on transport journeys—something integral to TGE’s EV trial.
“Even before we signed contracts, we had to have two weeks of union negotiations, to explain to them what we wanted to do,” explained Bone.
“Once we got the contracts signed, we needed to train the drivers in such a way to optimise the energy usage—like taking routes that don’t use the most energy, not using the heater and air conditioning if you don’t really have to.”
Over time, the fleet’s drivers became used to the new methods of driving, and embraced the EV technology.
“We’ve been through a huge change in management with our drivers, and I don’t think you can underestimate the impact of the driver’s attitude,” said Bone.
Awaiting its final EV trucks in the trial, Bone and TGE continue to spearhead the sector’s sustainability movement through the hard work of committed drivers and green technology.
