Holcim Australia announced a trial with a 100 per cent electric concrete truck mixer in partnership with Putzmeister Oceania.
According to Holcim Australia’s release, the trial truck is believed to be the first Australian Design Rules (ADRs) approved and road-registered electric concrete truck mixer in Australia. Putzmeister supports the SANY eMixer, which was launched under the SANY brand.
“Our commitment to sustainability is embedded in our core strategy and drives us to continuously improve and innovate,” Cyril Giraud, head of sustainability at Holcim Australia and New Zealand, said.
“Working in partnership with our suppliers to reduce carbon emissions across our transportation and logistics can go a long way in helping us reach our sustainability goals.”
Putzmeister Oceania worked with Cesco Australia to manufacture the Australian-made mixer structure onto the SANY SY408P Electric Chassis equipped with accepted controls.
The SANY eMixer has been globally developed, locally manufactured and battery powered. The specialist vehicle can transport concrete without emissions. It is powered by a 350-kWh battery from CATL while the mixer drum was manufactured by Cesco Australia. The electric truck can be fully charged overnight with a 30-kW charger or rapidly charged in just three hours.
“The performance of the truck and the efficiency of the battery will be tested under the unique operating constraints of ready-mix concrete distribution in metro and urban environments,” Kevin Peet, regional logistics manager for concrete SA/Vic at Holcim, said.
SANY concrete and road machinery sales manager William Liang added: The eMixer typically has lower operating costs than its diesel counterparts.
“It is more energy-efficient and requires less maintenance, which could result in significant cost savings over the vehicle’s lifetime. This not only makes it a smart financial choice but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the construction industry.”
The early stage of the trial has shown the SANY eMixer has completed its tasks each day with an average of 35 per cent of charge remaining according to Holcim’s release.
It is understood to be the first road-registered, 100 per cent electric 8 x 4 mixer in Australia according to the release.
“The development of the SANY eMixer specifically for the Australian market has been a significant investment for Putzmeister Oceania. This project is a key addition to our portfolio of low and zero-emission equipment,” Chris Bartlett, head of construction at Putzmeister Oceania, said.
“We are leading the way in supporting a more sustainable construction industry with the SANY eMixer and the recent introduction of the Putzmeister iONTRON hybrid concrete pump, the first of its kind in the market.
“Soon, we will add more exciting zero-emission products to our range of SANY and Putzmeister construction equipment, committing to delivering the best solutions, designed, developed, and manufactured specifically for Australian conditions.”
