In a major win for electric transport (and Volvo Trucks as the first mover of HD electric trucks), the Victorian Government has announced a permanent low/zero emissions road network.
The Low/Zero Emission Heavy Vehicle (LZEHV) access map has been developed to simplify the implementation of LZEH vehicles on Victorian roads.
The new network will allow Volvo heavy-duty electric trucks to operate under a pre-approved, three-year permit with a 7.5-ton steer axle weight concession on these routes. As an Australian first, Victoria is the first state or territory to make permanent moves to open the road network to LZEHVs rather than announcing a trial.
The announcement from Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, took place at a Freight Decarbonisation Summit, hosted by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Minister Horne said: “Achieving substantial reductions in transport sector emissions will require us to rapidly reduce the existing petroleum-fueled vehicle fleet and shift freight to rail whilst we begin the transition to zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) powered by clean energy.
“Today’s summit demonstrates Victoria is clearing a path for driving the energy transition in the freight sector to accelerate the uptake of ZEVs and further encourage mode shift across our transport network as we zero in on decarbonization.”
As the only manufacturer to offer a full range of electric heavy vehicles, Volvo Trucks Australia has been leading calls for the weight concessions for zero-emissions heavy vehicles to facilitate the adoption rate needed to meet Paris Agreement emissions targets.
“We’ve been very clear that without legislative changes such as these, we won’t as an industry meet the emissions targets that we are all working towards,” says Martin Merrick, President and CEO of Volvo Group Australia.
“I applaud the commitment shown by the Victorian Government by taking these steps. We’ve made our commitment to both industry and society that we will be at the forefront of zero-emissions transport, and I’m heartened to see government taking steps along this journey as well.”
