{"id":1891,"date":"2022-03-15T04:42:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T04:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alcoawheels.com\/australia\/en\/?post_type=news&p=1891"},"modified":"2025-08-12T05:19:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:49:26","slug":"3-important-ways-alcoa-wheels-is-helping-fleets-reach-their-zero-emissions-goals","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.alcoawheels.com\/australia\/en\/news\/3-important-ways-alcoa-wheels-is-helping-fleets-reach-their-zero-emissions-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Important Ways Alcoa Wheels Is Helping Fleets Reach Their Zero Emissions Goals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Australia about 20 per cent of carbon emissions stem from transport, including passenger transport, and these emissions are of course growing with increased demand for freight services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demand for freight is at an all-time high, with further growth to 35 per cent on 2018 volumes anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that with this increased demand for freight services, means in increase in CO2<\/sub> emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), from the 1970s to the late 2000s, the trucking industry made productivity gains of more than 600 per cent with B-double heavy vehicles being widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATA Transport and Infrastructure adviser Sam Marks says those gains have had a major impact on reducing emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout the decades of productivity improvement, such as the B-double, an additional 150,000 articulated trucks would have been needed in addition to the 70,000 that were registered for use in 2007,\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>ATA Transport and Infrastructure adviser Sam Marks told The Australian<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA B-double reduces the emissions impact by about 18 per cent, while a B-triple can reduce it by 31 per cent. You can move more freight per truck, there are less truck trips to get the job done,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> added Mr Marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gains have now stalled, and companies are looking to find the next wave of improvements to keep lowering fuel emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Alcoa wheels support sustainable transportation by helping trucks and trailers to be greener,\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>says Ross Simmons, Managing Director of Howmet Wheel Systems Australia (distributor of Alcoa Wheels). \u201cHelping operators cut down on fuel use and carbon emissions is one of our biggest priorities, and we invest heavily in leading in the latest innovations to engineer lighter and lighter wheels.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Carbon emissions from transport contribute about 27 per cent of the global CO2<\/sub> output, transport and logistics companies are turning more and more to electrification to meet their sustainability responsibilities driven by freight demands.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"zero-emissions-sea-electric\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
ELECTRIC AND HYDROGEN-CELL POWERED VEHICLES ARE IN<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Electric vehicles are playing a major role in the Australian Government\u2019s plan <\/a>to achieve zero emissions by 2050, with hydrogen-cell powered vehicles following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Tony Fairweather, founder and CEO at SEA Electric Australia commercial vehicles powered by their 100 per cent electric SEA-Drive\u2122<\/sup> technology reduced Australian CO2<\/sub> emissions by about 4000 tonnes in the decade to 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce fleets start trialing electric commercial delivery vehicles, they \u2013 and their drivers \u2013 never want to return to an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Tony told The Australian<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe linear acceleration and deceleration, zero noise and zero diesel fumes are some of many reasons drivers love an electric option.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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IMAGE CREDIT: Volvo Truck<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In late 2020 Volvo Trucks announced its intention for all Volvo Trucks to be fossil fuel free by 2040.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each Volvo FL truck has been estimated to save about 34,000 tonnes of CO2<\/sub> per 50,000km, taking into account vehicle manufacturing, use and end of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo Group Australia\u2019s vice president Emerging Technologies and Business Development Paul Illmer says the process to transition to electric vehicles is achievable for heavy vehicle fleets. Their trucks can travel up to about 200km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo vehicles come standard on Alcoa wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Image credit: Hyzon Motors<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hydrogen-cell powered vehicles are set to play a role in the zero emissions drive, with a vehicle introduced by Hyzon Motors touted as Australia\u2019s first hydrogen-cell heavy truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo and Daimler are also pursuing plans to cut the costs of hydrogen fuel cells to make the zero-emissions technology commercially viable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FUNDING FOR FLEETS<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has made $127.9 million available to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n