A YEAR in, and Patrick’s nine battery-electric terminal trucks at the Port of Fremantle are proving their worth in the industry’s transition to electric vehicles.
The trucks and dedicated charging infrastructure at Fremantle were an Australian first in the port industry’s transition to electric vehicles.
A report from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) which supported the transition with $2.5 million in funding, said the project was helping pave the way for vehicle electrification in port operations.
A LinkedIn post from Patrick’s said the cutting-edge electric terminal trucks have already demonstrated their capability in daily operations, reducing emissions, lowering noise and contributing to the sustainability of operations in Fremantle.
“It’s a big step in our decarbonisation journey – and a sign of what’s possible when we invest in innovation,” the post said.
“It’s important that focus remains on securing strong, resilient and productive supply chains for Australia’s future.”
The ARENA report focused on operational performance, energy use, battery durability, cost savings, and maintenance insights from the third six-month phase of the Patrick Terminals battery electric vehicles (BEV).
The nine BEV terminal trucks replaced eight diesel trucks, supported by fast charging infrastructure and a fleet power management system.
The report said the trial demonstrated BEV suitability for continuous 24/7 operations, with energy consumption averaging 17kWh per operating hour, remaining within design expectations.
“Battery degradation analysis of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells indicates battery life is likely to match the vehicle lifespan of approximately 12 years, suggesting minimal risk of mid-life battery replacement. This finding is significant for total cost of ownership,” the report said.
“Energy cost savings of around 60% were achieved compared to diesel trucks, although these were partially offset by Western Australia’s higher electricity prices and diesel fuel excise credits.
“This highlights the importance of local energy market conditions in economic assessments.
“Maintenance costs reduced by about 30%, despite increased reactive maintenance due to early-stage reliability issues with the BEV technology. This underlines the need for ongoing product refinement and robust support frameworks.
“Looking ahead, the project will continue data collection to refine understanding of vehicle energy efficiency, battery health monitoring, grid demand impacts, and overall cost of ownership. These insights emphasise the potential for BEVs to decarbonise heavy transport in port operations, while highlighting areas for further optimisation and risk management in future deployments.”