Australia trials electric concrete mixer truck

Holcim Australia and concrete equipment provider Putzmeister Oceania will trial the first Australian Design Rules (ADRs) approved and road registered fully electric concrete truck mixer in Australia.

The SANY eMixer represents a significant leap forward in the construction industry’s journey towards a carbon-neutral construction site, says Holcim.

“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,” says Holcim Australia and New Zealand sustainability head Cyril Giraud.

To meet Australian requirements, Putzmeister Oceania partnered with experts at Cesco Australia to manufacture an Australian-made mixer structure on a SANY SY408P Electric Chassis, integrated with locally designed and accepted controls.

A 100% electric, globally developed, locally manufactured, battery-powered mixer truck was the outcome.

The SANY eMixer is a specialised vehicle designed to transport concrete from the batching plant to the construction site safely, reliably, and efficiently, says Holcim.

At its core is a powerful 350kWh CATL battery.

“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,” says Holcim Concrete Vic/SA regional logistics manager Kevin Peet.

The mixer drum crafted by Cesco Australia guarantees high quality and durability.

The SANY eMixer can be fully charged overnight with a 30kW charger or rapidly charged in three hours.

“The eMixer typically has lower operating costs than its diesel counterparts,” says SANY Concrete and Road Machinery sales manager William Liang.

“ It is more energy-efficient and requires less maintenance, which could result in significant cost savings over the vehicle’s lifetime,” he says.

“This not only makes it a smart financial choice but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the construction industry.”

During early trial days the SANY eMixer covered multiple trips from the plant to job sites, completing each day with an average 35% state of charge remaining, says Holcim.