New Zealand Post and Fonterra are adding new alternative fuel trucks to their fleets to help meet carbon emissions targets.
The NZ Post truck is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and the Fonterra truck runs on batteries.
NZ Post chief executive officer, David Walsh, said that the hydrogen fuel cell truck is an essential part of the company’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. The truck, a Hyundai Xcient, was manufactured in Korea. It can travel 400 km on a single fill of hydrogen and is expected to displace 170 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The Fonterra truck is the first electric milk tanker to join the company’s fleet. It can travel 140 km on a single charge and can have its battery swapped in less than two minutes. Fonterra chief operation officer Fraser Whineray said the milk tanker was part of the company’s move towards greener energy.
“We think the move to electric is very important because it certainly helps to de-carbonise, but also it helps to reduce costs because driving on electricity is certainly much cheaper,” Whineray said.
The electric truck is expected to be ready for service next month and will operate within the Waitoa area in Waikato.
