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Foton cements EV truck trial with Holcim

Holcim Australia and Foton to collaborate in accelerating decarbonisation strategy

Holcim, a global manufacturer of building solutions with headquarters in Switzerland, has entered into an agreement with Foton Mobility Distribution (FMD) to trial the e-Auman C EV concrete truck in Australia.

The Foton EV truck will undergo a six-month trial by Holcim Australia at a remote mine site near Port Hedland in Western Australia, where it will be exposed to extreme operating conditions.

FMD says the trial will enable both parties to test the viability, reliability and performance of the truck under the unique operating requirements of ready-mix concrete distribution.

“The initiative is aligned to Holcim’s global Accelerating Green Growth strategy,” says Cyril Giraud, head of sustainability at Holcim Australia and New Zealand.

“It serves as a local example of Holcim’s commitment to investing in zero emissions vehicles, thereby helping to reduce environmental impacts while delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers.”

If successful and approved under Australian Design Rules (ADR) for public road use, the trial is expected to pave the way for Holcim to deliver its EcoPact low-carbon concrete products more sustainably, aimed at assisting its customers to achieve their own climate targets.

“By replacing one diesel concrete truck with an EV we will eliminate approximately 42 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each and every year.

“This equates to a fuel cost saving in excess of $33,000 per annum, before further savings are extracted via lower service and maintenance costs,” Giraud says.

For its part, FMD will gain valuable insights into the performance of its larger zero emissions trucks, having already achieved market leadership in the EV light duty truck sector.

Neil Wang, FMD’s CEO says working with the Holcim team has been extremely enjoyable and educational.

“We are looking forward to a successful trial in the harshest operating conditions in Australia, and to the valuable operational data that will enable further improvements to be made to our products,” Wang says.

“The introduction of the Foton EV Concrete truck to the Australian market via this trial is the forerunner of a number of new and exciting Foton New Energy vehicles which will be introduced in 2024 in support of the transition to Net Zero. We look forward to assisting Holcim in its Accelerating Green Growth Strategy.”

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Holcim says it is all part of accelerating green growth for people and the planet.

“For us, building progress means providing low-carbon products and reducing our operational impact on the environment,” Giraud adds.

“Working together with Foton we are providing our customers with more options to help decarbonise the built environment.”

Over the past year, Holcim Australia says it has been actively working towards decarbonising its fleet operations by conducting trials on battery-powered heavy vehicles.

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