Woolworths expands electric truck fleet with 148-vehicle Zenobe deal

Australian retailer Woolworths has announced a significant expansion of its electric fleet operations, following a new deal with fleet electrification firm Zenobe. This will see 148 battery-electric trucks deployed in what's being described as the country's largest commercial electric truck rollout to date.

Under the agreement, Zenobe will supply and manage a fleet of Foton T5 electric trucks for Woolworths under its Electric Vehicle-as-a-Service model. This sees Zenobe provide its customers with an ‘end-to-end’ EV leasing product that includes vehicles, charging infrastructure, maintenance and battery services, plus fleet support all through a monthly payment – and that’s exactly what Woolworths will be receiving.

The rollout will support the Australian retailer’s last-mile grocery deliveries across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Deliveries are currently already underway, with the full fleet expected to enter service by the end of this year.

Gareth Ridge, Country Director, Australia and New Zealand at Zenobē, said: “This project is evidence that electrification is a commercial opportunity. Woolworths is already rolling out hundreds of electric trucks at scale, that’s almost unheard of in Australia’s freight sector and proof that with the right business model and competitive pricing from Zenobē, electrification stacks up right now. Together with Woolworths and the CEFC, we’re proving that large-scale zero-emissions logistics is no longer a pilot, it’s commercially viable and operationally proven.”

Woolworths Group Director Last Mile and Partnerships Sarah Pike added: “Our home delivery trucks are a familiar sight in suburbs across Australia. These EVs will help keep suburban streets quieter and cleaner, and make the weekly grocery shop greener for Aussie families.”

The agreement builds on a $6m AUD investment by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation into Zenobe last year, which backed the use of 60 electric trucks by the Australian retailer. Deals between Woolworths and Zenobe fit within a wider ambition by the UK-based fleet leasing firm to more than ‘double’ the number of electric trucks in Australia by the end of 2026. This amounts to a $100m AUD investment in Australia by the company, and has seen Zenobe make deals with a wide range of commercial vehicle operators including both public transport and freight logistics.

zenobe.com