Australian-Made 100% Electric Truck Delivered

SEA Electric EV10 | Image: Kings Transport via Facebook

The keys to the first electric truck produced by Melbourne’s SEA Electric were handed to Kings Transport yesterday.

Claimed to be first Australian 100% electric commercial truck, the EV10 has a range of up to 180 kilometres and boasts a carry capacity of 10 tonnes.

The EV10 features SEA’s SEA-Drive powertrain and a 100kW permanent magnet motor that provides 1230Nm of continuous torque. The EV10 is capable of 0-50km/h in 6 seconds and has a speed limited top speed of 100km/h.

The EV10 has 120kWh of battery capacity, with the battery pack mounted below the cab and between the chassis rails for protection and balance. Energy storage is in the form of Lithium-Ion (LiNoMnCoO2 – NMC) batteries with an expected life of at least 10 years. The battery pack has a mass of approximately 600 kg and an energy density of 354 Wh/L.

SEA says it can produce 100% electric commercial vehicles that have a lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) compared to that of a new diesel vehicle.

The source of the electricity Kings Transport will use to recharge the vehicle isn’t clear, but the company has a carbon-neutral policy and states it has purchased carbon offsets for the past 5 years.

Kings To Acquire More Electric Commercial Vehicles

The EV10 is the first of nine vehicles Kings Transport will acquire from SEA Electric, and more may be added.

“Part of our asset replacement program is where electric vehicles fit the operational requirements, our commitment is that electric will be our first choice,” said Kings Transport CEO, Tony Mellick.

SEA Automotive Pty Ltd received $517,000 from the Victorian Government last year to develop a commercial electric vehicle manufacturing facility, one of the first recipients to gain support under the Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio attended yesterday’s unveiling event.

“Today we’re seeing the results of a fantastic initiative, made possible thanks to our New Energy Jobs Fund,” said the Minister. “We’re helping businesses right across the state develop a diverse range of new energy technology projects to help support this vital sector.”

SEA will be producing two other commercial vehicle types – the E4V, which is a delivery van or 12 seater minibus and the EV14, a 14t GVM cab chassis truck. The company also commenced a Hino GH1728 cab chassis electrification project in January this year.

It appears the transport industry is becoming increasingly keen on the potential of electric vehicles to green operations and reduce operating costs. Last week we mentioned truck manufacturing giant Scania has indicated many of its customers were wanting to make the shift to sustainable transport.