Heavy vehicle fleets will soon have access to Australia’s first shared truck charging hub, after ARENA announced $12.3 million in funding for a landmark project in Melbourne’s Laverton North freight precinct. The investment will see Mondo Power develop, construct, and operate the site, supporting freight operators transitioning to zero-emission heavy vehicles.
The facility will be fitted with 14 dual-plug chargers designed exclusively for heavy-duty battery electric trucks. Beyond infrastructure, the project will subsidise the total cost of ownership for 20 BEV trucks, with several truck manufacturers partnering with Mondo to provide vehicles, technical support, and trial programs.
AusNet Chief Development Officer Jon D’Sylva said the hub would play a pivotal role in decarbonising heavy transport.
“This is a first-of-its-kind facility in Australia, providing essential charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles, supporting the transition to zero-emission freight and reducing pollution in Melbourne’s inner west.”
AusNet Chief Development Officer Jon D’Sylva
For operators of long-haul and regional freight, the inclusion of charging services agreements—covering hub access, fixed pricing, and driver parking—signals a practical model to integrate electric trucks into daily operations.
The hub aligns with ARENA’s broader Driving the Nation Program, which supports infrastructure and technology to accelerate Australia’s net zero transition. With freight transport a major contributor to national emissions, this project demonstrates a scalable approach for the industry to meet customer and regulatory pressures to decarbonise.
- Isuzu Delivers Helping Hand to BlazeAid
BlazeAid has strengthened its ability to reach disaster-affected rural properties with a new Isuzu NPS 75-155 4×4 Crew truck, donated by Isuzu Australia Limited. Equipped with a purpose-built body designed and manufactured by Service Bodies Australia (SBA), the truck will transport volunteer crews, tools and equipment to communities recovering from bushfires, floods and cyclones. The - Borger Hits a Century with HinoBorger Cranes has taken delivery of its 100th Hino truck, adding a distinctive Indigenous-liveried Hino 700 Series SS 2848 prime mover to its national fleet. The truck will transport auxiliary crane equipment, including counterweights, supporting a business that employs more than 1,100 people and operates 320 cranes and over 270 vehicles. For the Indigenous-owned family
- Downer’s Hino Choice Starts with the DriverDowner Group has added another Hino 700 Series to its fleet, selecting an FY 3248 8×4 chassis for a specialised Bergkamp feeder unit used in road preservation and microsurfacing. The purchase followed an extensive evaluation of different truck manufacturers, with Downer assessing how each chassis would meet the demands of the application. Driver comfort, low
- REMONDIS Tests a Cleaner Way to Collect WasteREMONDIS Australia has trialled a Mercedes-Benz eEconic electric waste collection truck in Brisbane, exploring how the technology could support emissions reduction across its 600-truck Australian fleet. The battery-electric eEconic 6×2 undertook commercial waste collection duties during August 2026. Built to comply with Australian truck mass and dimension requirements, the trial vehicle combined Mercedes-Benz’s electric drivetrain
- Great Bay Builds Smarter with IsuzuHobart-based Great Bay Construction has added an Isuzu NPR 45-175 Tradepack to its operations, equipping the truck as a mobile workshop and office to support its residential building and development projects. The customised truck carries tools, provides power for charging equipment and allows machinery to be refuelled on site. For Managing Director Shane Spaulding, the
