The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) officially hosted its fourth Alternative Fuel Summit, with CEO Peter Anderson calling for urgent collaboration to help operators transition to low- and zero-emission transport.
“Momentum towards carbon-free energy is building globally, and our industry must be ready to adapt,” Anderson says.
“But operators cannot do this alone. The transition requires significant investment in infrastructure, technology and training. Without support, many businesses will struggle to remain commercially viable.”
He warned that while incentives are available now, penalties such as carbon taxes and trading schemes may soon accelerate the shift.
“We will be forced to comply with targets and policy if we do not do it ourselves. And when I say forced, I mean through incentives or penalties. Right now, there is government funding available for transition projects – but that support must continue and grow,” he says.
“Trying to define a transitional pathway while staying sustainable is very difficult. We now have two opposing political positions on Net Zero philosophies that create doubt about what the future may look like here in Australia.”
He stressed the importance of commercial viability.
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“Your social conscience has no value if you’re broke and out of business. The solutions must have commercial value and be supported by your customers,” Anderson says.
“Whether it’s electricity, gases or liquids, the infrastructure to deliver these alternate fuels at the volume and cost acceptable in the market is still in its early days. Operators need confidence that the networks will be there before they commit capital.
“Momentum is building, and so must our knowledge and understanding. But this transition will only succeed if governments, suppliers and customers work together to support operators every step of the way.”
The alternative fuel summit included discussions involving Viva Energy Australia, Freight Victoria, AECOM, Swinburne University and CMV Truck and Bus on sustainability and electrification projects.
The second panel saw specialists discuss the transition and ESG compliance, while case studies shared real-world experiences with renewable fuels, electric fleets and hydrogen solutions.
Finally, experts from Hall & Wilcox, NTI, Mondo, NewVolt, EV-NRG and Windrose addressed biofuel incentives, insurance for electric fleets, charging hubs and electric prime mover developments.
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