News | Truck & Bus
Briefs Hyzon Hymax to be first hydrogen heavy vehicle in Australia Hyzon Motors has signed a vehicle supply agreement with Australian industrial gases company Coregas to deliver two hydrogen fuel cellpowered prime movers to New South Wales.
Victoria Bitter is turning green Victoria Bitter is going green, with the Big Cold Beer to be delivered in Melbourne via electric vehicles in a new Volvo FL all-electric truck, the first-ever electric vehicle in the Linfox fleet.
The Hyzon Hymax-450 prime movers are expected to be delivered in the first half of 2022 and mark the first hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles to operate in Australia. The prime movers should be immediately deployed upon arrival from Hyzon’s manufacturing facility in the Netherlands. Coregas is in the process of developing Australia’s first commercial vehicle hydrogen refuelling station at its Port Kembla facility to support both the Hyzon hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles and the refuelling of trucks and buses operated by third parties. The project represents a strategic first step in developing a broader hydrogen ecosystem.
FatigueM8 system to check driver fatigue Augmented-Intelligence based in Canberra has developed a system called FatigueM8 to monitor driver fatigue in trucks which checks in with the driver every couple of hours and decides if they need a break. It checks heart rates, behavioural changes and a host of other data via sensors built into the truck steering wheel. The driver gets a score to indicate the level of tiredness experienced with green, amber and red alerts. The system can be fitted onto existing steering wheels.
Organisational changes at IVECO
The VB truck is the first mass-produced electric truck of its size in Australia and one of more than 50 Volvo FL allelectric trucks delivered globally to date. It will deliver 100,000+ cans and stubbies each week from Asahi Beverages’ distribution centre in Melbourne’s west. The truck will be powered entirely by 100 percent offset solar power drawn from Asahi Beverages’ solar farm near Mildura in northern Victoria.
IVECO has announced organisational changes with the latest appointments taking effect immediately across sales, aftersales, product development and marketing.
BusTech to make electric buses for Queensland
Current Head of Sales – Truck and Van, Glen Dyer, has also assumed responsibility for the Bus and Special Vehicles portfolio. The newly created position of Head of Customer Services has been filled by Margot Baker, who previously held the role of Legal Counsel at IVECO.
Following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Keolis Downer, BusTech Group will manufacture 16 new electric buses for operation on Queensland roads.
Current IVECO Head of Network Development, Ella Letiagina’s role has been expanded to include Product and Marketing. IVECO stalwart Marco Quaranta has assumed the position of Strategic Relations and Industry Relations Manager with a focus on propulsion, while experienced IVECO Product Manager, Emiliano Foieri has been promoted to Product Management Lead.
Coach builder Irizar takes on new employees A leadership change at coach-body distributor Irizar Australia will see ex-Iveco bus employee Steve Heanes head up the Spanish manufacturer as managing director which was effective in early September. Previous MD Daniel Castro has joined Irizar in the US. 14 | September 2021
The $15.6 million deal with Keolis Downer will also create the state’s first 100 percent electric bus depot in North Lakes at Hornibrook Bus Lines. “This deal will see the largest rollout of electric buses in Queensland to date,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. “These buses will be built right here in Queensland, at BusTech on the Gold Coast. “The Palaszczuk Government has made a commitment that by 2025 every new urban bus we add to the fleet in SEQ will be zeroemissions, by 2030 we’ll roll that out to the rest of the urban fleet and of course we want them to be built here in Queensland.” The investment to make the North Lakes depot fully electric and build these buses on the Gold Coast is expected to support 150 jobs over the next two years.
It’s also expected to bring more than $17 million of estimated value into the economy for local suppliers and contractors. BusTech Queensland will manufacture the 16 Australian-designed and engineered electric buses in their facility in the Gold Coast. The first bus is due to arrive at the North Lakes depot in September 2022, ahead of all 16 being ready for service by late 2023. BusTech has already produced 20 buses for use in South Australia at the group’s Adelaide facility and 17 of these buses are hybrid electric. The company employs more than 250 people in Australia and uses local engineering capabilities. The hybrid buses have been developed with Scania. The first three hybrid buses have already rolled off the production line.