Perth's electric freight revolution slashes diesel use with solar-powered trucks
A new electric freight project in Perth is now fully up and running. Developed with government backing, it aims to cut diesel use and reduce emissions from heavy trucks. The shift could save billions of litres of fuel each year across Australia. Centurion’s Off-Grid Battery Electric Vehicle Project has launched in Perth, supporting 30 electric eActros 300 trucks. The fleet includes 25 rigid trucks and five prime movers, all powered by renewable energy. Charging comes from 15 dual-port stations, fed by 4.4 MW of rooftop solar and 10.3 MWh of battery storage. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) serves as a backup power source.
Heavy freight vehicles currently burn around 30% of Australia’s 32 billion litres of imported diesel annually. Switching to electric could free up 10 billion litres of diesel every year. The truck industry also reports that heavy-duty and articulated vehicles produce about 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions each year. Janus Electric, another key player, has already converted roughly 30 diesel trucks to electric across Australia. Their process takes just six days and costs AU$175,000—cheaper than replacing a diesel engine. The company has over 100 binding orders in progress. The project received $15.8 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), along with support from other partners.
The Perth project marks a major step toward cleaner freight transport. With solar-powered charging and a growing fleet of electric trucks, the system is designed to cut both fuel costs and emissions. Further expansion could see even greater reductions in diesel dependence nationwide.
