EV truck for Melbourne road maintenance

Fulton Hogan will use its first all-electric SEA Electric commercial truck for road signs and road maintenance in the City of Port Phillip.

The SEA Hino 917 EV is claimed as a world first because it has outlets for power tools to be used roadside, running off the EV truck’s battery rather than a fossil fuel-powered generator.

“The technology aligns with Fulton Hogan’s commitment to sustainable transport and roadworks solutions,” Fulton Hogan infrastructure services chief executive Matthew MacMahan says.

The EV truck is a collaboration with ORIX Australia Fleet Management, and ORIX sales and marketing general manager Scott Thorpe says the company shares SEA Electrics’ ambition to identify and implement environmentally sustainable solutions that support organisational requirements.

The commercial electric vehicle has zero emissions for an improved carbon footprint and saves significant costs with reduced fuel and lower maintenance costs. It is also quiet, reducing noise pollution in urban streets.

“We joked we have just built the world’s most versatile zero-emissions power board,” SEA Electric Oceania regional director Glen Walker says.

“This vehicle also expands upon the increasingly productive collaboration between SEA Electric and Hino Trucks Australia.”

While the electric truck is built on a Hino 917 platform, future orders can be adapted to most OEM glider platforms.

It’s powered by the SEA-Drive100 power-system with a 100kWh battery capacity, which produces 108kW maximum power.

More importantly for a commercial vehicle, the SEA-Drive 100 produces 1000Nm torque, has up to 275km range (unladen), and has an onboard three-phase charger that can be charged to 80% within five hours.

The EV truck also has CCSD DC fast charge capability.

SEA Electric is a Melbourne-based company with a global reach, which includes New Zealand.