Eastland Port receives $298k for electric water truck

Eastland Port has received $298,000 from the Government’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) towards New Zealand’s first all-electric water truck.

It was among 21 electric vehicle projects which received $3.8 million in the seventh round of the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF) administered by EECA and announced by energy and resources minister Dr Megan Woods.

Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd says the vehicle has been “a long time in the planning, and is a strong statement about our commitment towards a carbon-free future for Tairawhiti”.

“We will put the co-funding towards buying a 27 tonne electric truck that will be used for watering and dust suppression at Eastland Port. We’ll also install a 60kW fast charging station on the port.

“We were originally awarded a grant from the LEVCF for this project back in 2018. However, after further scoping the available options, we decided not to proceed until we could source and customise the ideal electric truck for our unique requirements.

“Having done so, we reapplied and are delighted that we’ve been successful. We’re now progressing with the project, and will confirm final costings, timeframes and delivery date in due course,” Todd says.

The EV will replace a traditional diesel-powered truck that currently carries out the job of suppressing dust in the port and log yards.

“It will help us reduce noise levels and our carbon footprint … we worked out our diesel water truck produced 0.77 tonnes of CO2 in just 35 days. Incorporating an electric truck into the port’s fleet will be a substantial step towards significantly cutting our emissions.

“We want to find out whether electric vehicles could be suitable for other operations within diesel-dominated industries like forestry, marine and logistics. We’ll be gathering data and sharing learnings with businesses and the wider community.”

In 2019, Eastland Group and its shareholder Trust Tairawhiti signed up to the Climate Leaders Coalition. The organisation aims to help New Zealand transition to a low emissions economy.

“We believe that we can be a leader in steering Tairawhiti towards zero carbon through renewable energy and facilitating the transition to electric vehicles,” Todd says.

“The introduction of a new electric water truck at the port is a very positive step on this journey.”