Energy firm looks to reduce carbon emissions and noise
Energy infrastructure firm Jemena is running what it says an Australian-first electric powered ‘cherry picker’ truck as part of its effort to reduce carbon emissions across the Jemena Electricity Network in Melbourne’s north-west.
Addition of the electric elevated work platform truck, aims to reduce Jemena’s carbon output by 30 tonnes per year and is the result of a partnership with Australian electric propulsion company SEA Electric.
“SEA Electric [is] a Melbourne-based manufacturer of electric vehicles and leader in converting commercial vehicles from diesel to electric,” Jemena executive general manager for electricity distribution Shaun Reardon says.
“The cherry picker was converted into an electric vehicle as part of a major reconstruction over a 12-month period.”
SEA Electric sales director for Australia and New Zealand Joe Di Santo says his team is excited to see the industry-first vehicle join Jemena’s Victorian fleet.
“It’s been a special and historical project for the management and engineering staff at SEA Electric to partner with Jemena in the development of this Australian-first 100 per cent electric elevated work platform service truck,” Di Santo continues.
“The SEA Hino FG all-electric vehicle is anticipated to reduce Jemena’s carbon output by 30 tonnes per annum.”
Reardon sees other gains from such a vehicle and foreshadows additions to the fleet.
“Not only is this electric powered cherry picker the first step in greening our fleet, it will also benefit our customers with a quieter operation and zero exhaust emissions,” he says.
“We will look for new ways to further reduce the carbon emissions across our electricity network in the future.”
Originally a Niftylift-built diesel cherry picker, SEA Electric converted the truck into a 100 per cent electric vehicle equipped with a 138kWh battery pack said to provide around 200km of range.
The elevated work platform is powered by the truck’s battery which will be charged at the end of each day and takes around six hours.
The vehicle began operating within the Jemena Electricity Network this week. READ MORE
Article by Australian Transport News, 14th August 2020
