FOTON Mobility Distribution Pty Ltd
Mogens JohansenThe West AustralianSat, 25 February 2023 4:14PM
Transport in Australia contributes a significant portion of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and more and more logistics operators recognise the need to accelerate their transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Here in Perth, the first light-duty electric trucks are slowly being rolled out, and West Wheels was invited to take a brand-new Foton T5 electric truck for a test drive by Lombardi general manager Paul McGovern.
After retailing trucks for 35 years, it is fair to say that Mr McGovern is more than a little excited to welcome Foton T5 trucks to his dealership.
“I can safely say that the Foton electric truck is the most exciting release I have been involved with from a dealer perspective. It drives sensationally well and better than any small truck I have ever driven,” he says, as we pull out of the dealership yard with me behind the wheel.
I’m no truckie. I’ve hired the odd removal light truck from time to time, but this feels streets ahead when compared to similar-sized small diesel trucks I’ve driven. It’s like driving a car. The cabin is extremely well appointed and the electric motor has plenty of punch.
I put my foot down and we are at the top speed of 95km/h in a flash. This is, of course, with an empty tray, but Mr McGovern tells me he’s had a three-tonne concrete block on the back during demo drives and it easily outperforms a similar-sized diesel truck.
“And this has the added bonus of being really quiet because we are not sitting on top of a noisy diesel engine,” he says.
He sees a lot of potential for the Foton T5 truck. He expects strong demand from mining companies wanting to use it for onsite services, and from local government and shires that can use the trucks for their parks and gardens maintenance crews. Supermarket chains that are running home delivery and parcel delivery services are also potential customers for the Foton T5 truck.
Mr McGovern says electric trucks are perfect for shires because their vehicles usually don’t do huge kilometres on a daily basis.
The T5 costs $129,000 plus GST for the cab and chassis. A flat tray with drop sides like the one on the vehicle we tested will add another $9500 plus GST. While the up-front cost is more than a conventional truck, the savings on lower operating costs and the zero emissions from the vehicle will no doubt be attractive to fleet operators who want to improve their green credentials.
The T5 has a range up to 200km so it is well suited to city-based operators looking to kickstart their sustainability journey.
It has a 60Ah battery that can be charged from flat to full in 1.5 hours at a fast charger or 12-14 hours at a slow charger.
There’s a five-year or 200,000km warranty on the vehicle, the electric motor and the battery. And Foton can supply a range of charging units suitable for both large and small fleet application.
Specifications:
Length/width/height: 5960 x 1950 x 2260mm
Wheel base: 3360mm
Curb weight: less than 2500kg
Gross vehicle mass: 4500 or 6000kg
Maximum speed: 95km/h
Foton Mobility is an Australian-owned distributor of new-energy heavy vehicles. They source the best overseas technology to lead the zero-emissions transport revolution in Australia. The T5 truck is fully imported from China.
For more information, head to fotonmobility.com.au or contact Lombardi on phone: 6310 2222 or visit lombardi.com.au.
