Canberra's getting its first electric truck dealership

Fyshwick might be about to lose its Toyota dealership but it’s also gaining a first for Canberra – one dedicated to electric trucks.

There’ll be a range of conventional diesel-powered Iveco vans and Hino trucks too, but the first electric Hyundai Mighty trucks are already on display at the Canberra Toyota dealership on 44 Wollongong Street, with others from SEA Electric and hybrids from Hino to arrive soon.

General manager Don Griffiths says it’s been a work in progress since mid-2023.

“We’re really at the start stage now, but we’re going to majorly open around March or April,” he said.

The Hyundai Mighty Electric uses the same chassis and body as its diesel-powered peers, but mounts a lithium-ion battery either side of the central driveline where the fuel tanks would go. It promises an estimated range of 200 km when fully loaded.

SEA Electric is based in Melbourne and converts Hino 500 Series medium-duty and 300 Series light-duty models to electric power. We saw one example of this in 2022, when the ACT Government trialled an electric rubbish truck with a range of 190 km when empty.

Don says ActewAGL and Icon Water have been trialling the electric trucks for their jobs, and officials from various ACT Government directorates tried them out at an EV Drive Day at the Sutton Road Training Centre in November.

“The core buying group for these vehicles will be government departments,” he said.

“The departments all buy through SG Fleet, so they’ll come to us and test drive it and make sure it fills the bill and then go to SG Fleet and ask them to work out a package for them. SG Fleet comes to us for a quote and we go from there.”

But he also says electric trucks in Canberra make a lot of sense for private operators.

“A lot of these trucks spend a lot of time sitting,” he said.

“So, for instance, a landscaper who lives in Canberra can visit a couple of sites in a day, get home in the evening and put it on the charger, and by the time he gets up in the morning, it’s ready for a day’s work again.”

During the development process, Hyundai set the average distance driven by taxis in Sydney as their benchmark to beat – 160 km. Don says their trucks’ range of 200 km is plenty for urban duties.

For now, the dealership’s focus is purely electric. But there is scope to sell hydrogen-powered trucks in the future as the technology evolves.

The ACT Government certainly sees a future for hydrogen, beyond the two Toyota Mirais and 20 Hyundai NEXOs already in its fleet. At a recent press conference at CIT’s EV workshop, transport minister Chris Steel said they have “certainly not” abandoned hydrogen.

“Fuel-cell technology … particularly for the heavy vehicle applications … appears to be where hydrogen is most useful in terms of providing the energy … in the future,” he said.

“We will certainly be looking at the opportunity to transition our whole fleet to zero emissions over time and that may involve a mix of different technologies depending on what the application is.”

Late last year, ACT Fire & Rescue welcomed its first electric truck, a breathing apparatus support (BAS) vehicle, the first of four new electric emergency services vehicles to be delivered as part of a $12.7 million deal with Volvo Australia.

Not only is the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) directorate transitioning the bus fleet to electric, but they’ve also obtained electric mowers, street sweeper, excavator, tipper truck and mini bus. Next year, these will be joined by an electric litter collection truck.

For those planning to visit Canberra Toyota’s Fyshwick dealership, the car sales department has been transferred to the existing dealerships in Phillip and Belconnen. Servicing and parts remain available.