Isuzu Australia has revealed it is currently trialling two battery electric vehicles in Australia, with more trial units set to be put to the test on local roads amid a sweeping plan to revolutionise the trucking landscape that includes autonomous, hydrogen fuel-cell and biofuel vehicles.
At the Brisbane Truck Show, Isuzu Australia announced plans to further advance its reduction of transport carbon emissions into the future.
In partnership with parent company Isuzu Group in Japan, Isuzu Australia revealed activities currently underway both locally and internationally to meet a global goal of having a carbon neutral range of products by 2050.
The all-new model launch revealed at the truck show is part of the group’s long-term product strategy to develop more alternate fuel solutions for the Australian transport industry.
Isuzu Australia chief of product Matt Sakhaie told Brisbane Truck Show attendees late last week that the global brand is planning to adapt to a changing transport landscape.
“The global Isuzu Group recognise that to continue to compete in such a rapidly changing road transport environment, the company needs to continue to adapt,” he says.
“With that, they have clearly stated their vision to move beyond the core product that has made Isuzu so successful and transform into a commercial mobility solutions provider.”
A critical component of this thinking is the recognition that real world solutions may and will take many shapes and forms.
“An immediate priority for all Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) is the reduction of tailpipe emissions and there’s range of initiatives underway to achieve this vision as appropriate for the local market and our customers,” he says.
While Isuzu’s new range features cleaner and more efficient Euro VI and Post New Long-Term engines, Sakhaie says there’s “a number of other avenues” the company is pursuing to reduce its carbon footprint.
“We continue to work on a battery electric vehicle or ‘BEV’ solution for urban and last-mile logistics applications. This has been a keen focus within IAL for some years now,” he says.
“Our two initial N Series trial vehicles have been performing very well over the past year and we’re about to introduce additional units into our Australian trials.”
On top of this, Isuzu is also continuing to work with fuel cell vehicles, spurred on by the parent company’s recent global partnerships.
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“The Isuzu and Honda partnered Giga Fuel Cell prime mover is perhaps the first incarnation of these collaborations, with a prototype displayed at the last Japan Mobility Show,” Sakhaie says.
“The first real-world evaluation of this model was undertaken last year, with insights to be shared to Australian audiences soon.”
Beyond this, Sakhaie also teased the use of biofuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).
“To put it simply, HVO is a diesel-like fuel that can be produced without fossil resources by processing renewable waste lipids, i.e. vegetable oils and animal fats,” he says.
“HVO producers suggest that the product may contribute to a more balanced carbon cycle.
“Isuzu is also working intensively on this as a step on the technology path to the company’s carbon reduction objectives.”
On the autonomous side, Isuzu Australia says developers have recently showcased significant technological breakthroughs such as improved sensor capabilities and AI decision-making, enabling reliable self-driving in complex environments.
Sakhaie says Isuzu sees the relevance of this to the trucking industry in the hub-to-hub and middle-mile sectors, where suitability of these applications is due to the planned nature of activity as opposed to the variability of last-mile trucking.
“The Isuzu Group is well and truly active in this space with continued investment in ventures such as Gatik over in the United States. Here the push is underway to develop autonomous driving products for middle-mile logistics in North America, with the aim of achieving level four – high driving autonomy by 2027,” he says.
“Investment in research and development programs is well underway and the nature of our partnerships and strategic alliances – all reflect a hunger to identify, develop and offer the solutions that customers require for their commercial transport needs.”
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