“Yes we can:” Andrew Forrest mocks Murdoch tabloid stories dismissing electric trucks

Andrew Forrest, the billionaire founder of Fortescue Metals Group and a prominent advocate for green energy, has publicly challenged sceptical reports from The Daily Telegraph that dismiss the viability of electric semi-trailers in Australia’s trucking industry. The Murdoch-owned tabloid labelled electric trucks as a distant “green dream,” citing unnamed experts who claimed the technology would take decades to become practical. Forrest countered this narrative by highlighting Fortescue’s imminent deployment of a battery-electric Liebherr T 264 haul truck, which has already undergone successful trials and is set to join the company’s Pilbara mining operations within months. Fortescue has set an ambitious goal of achieving “real zero” emissions at its Pilbara sites by 2030, aiming to eliminate the use of gas and diesel across its transport and power needs. The company is investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure, including two gigawatts of wind and solar capacity supported by 4.5 gigawatt-hours of battery storage. This transition also involves replacing its entire fleet of massive haul trucks and other mining machinery with electric alternatives, with 15 electric excavators already in operation, each saving around one million litres of diesel annually. The broader electric heavy vehicle sector in Australia is also advancing rapidly. New Energy Transport recently completed its first electric heavy truck delivery between Sydney and Canberra, achieving lower costs and faster journey times compared to diesel trucks. The company plans to expand its electric truck routes and establish charging depots to support this growth. Meanwhile, the federal government is backing the shift with plans for new electric truck charging hubs in Melbourne, and manufacturers like Volvo are enhancing their electric trucks’ range, with models now capable of covering over 700 kilometres on a single charge. Forrest’s response underscores a growing confidence in the feasibility and near-term adoption of electric heavy vehicles, challenging entrenched scepticism within parts of the media and industry. His remarks highlight the accelerating pace of innovation and infrastructure development that could see electric trucks become a mainstream solution much sooner than some experts predict. As Australia’s mining and transport sectors push towards decarbonisation, these developments signal a significant shift in the country’s approach to sustainable heavy transport.