Australian start-up crunches the numbers on electric trucks for companies stuck on diesel

An Australian start-up, Eco Route Advisory, is developing a sophisticated modelling tool to help freight companies assess the viability of switching from diesel to electric trucks. The company aims to simplify the complex decision-making process by providing rapid feasibility assessments that calculate realistic electric truck ranges, charging requirements, and operational costs. This initiative comes amid rising fuel prices and growing interest in reducing emissions within the heavy vehicle sector, which, despite comprising only four per cent of Australia’s vehicle fleet, accounts for a quarter of its pollution. Eco Route’s model incorporates a range of variables including freight load, battery condition, route topography, speed limits, and driver fatigue regulations to deliver accurate predictions tailored to specific journeys. The tool has been validated against real-world data from multiple electric truck brands such as Windrose and Janus, ensuring its reliability. Founder Marceline Overduin emphasises that the model can save operators significant time and money compared to traditional trial periods, which can cost around $20,000 for just two weeks of testing. The project has received a $440,000 grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its Advancing Renewables Program, highlighting its potential to influence both industry and infrastructure planning. ARENA’s transport general manager, Alex Grant, noted that the data generated by Eco Route’s tool will be invaluable for government agencies and charging network developers in deciding where to locate electric vehicle charging stations. This insight is particularly timely as Australia seeks to build a more robust electric freight infrastructure. Eco Route’s work complements other national efforts to decarbonise freight transport, including New Energy Transport’s plans for a low-emission freight corridor in Sydney and Volvo’s commitment to producing electric trucks in Brisbane. Together, these initiatives signal a growing momentum towards electrification in Australia’s heavy vehicle sector, aiming to reduce emissions and operating costs while supporting the transition to renewable energy.