Foodstuffs charges ahead with electric trucks

Foodstuffs New Zealand will use nearly $1 million in funding for three new electric vehicle projects which include four heavy EV trucks.

“In a New Zealand first, product deliveries to selected stores will be now be made by four new Isuzu Electric trucks in Auckland and Christchurch,” company sustainability manager Mike Sammons says.

The two six-tonne and two 11-tonne trucks follow the successful trial of 28 full electric delivery vans already deployed – which have clocked up more than 200,000km and saved 37 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The electric truck project receives $379,600 from the Government’s low emission vehicles contestable fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

The other two grants of $416,000 and $154,240 go to the installation of seven 50kW and five 25kW public fast chargers at about 12 North Island Pak’nSave and New World stores and four 50kW chargers at South Island supermarkets respectively.

Foodstuffs already hosts 48 fast charge EV stations at its supermarkets throughout New Zealand and will now roll out another 16 fast chargers to total 64.

Sammons says the Government fund plays an important role in helping business get into carbon-reducing technology and proving the case for more widespread adoption.

“The co-funding has supported our partnership with Blackwells Isuzu and SEA Electric for our trucks, and our long-term collaboration with ChargeNet NZ for our store-based chargers.”

He says consumers are increasingly getting into EVs and need a network to help make the transition.

“It makes perfect sense for our supermarkets to host fast chargers which customers can use while they shop. Time is the one commodity we’re all running short of, so combining two jobs is a winner for our customers.”

Foodstuffs will start installing the new chargers in coming weeks and the four electric delivery trucks will arrive mid-2019.