Brisbane Truck Show 2019 showcases commercial vehicle electrification

Australia may be regularly dismissed as a laggard in terms of vehicle electrification, but a visit to the recent Brisbane Truck Show would have left few visitors in doubt over the future of road transport in this country.

Electric trucks and drive systems were conspicuously and proudly displayed by big-name tier 1 suppliers such as Dana, Meritor and Eaton.

Australian electric commercial vehicle specialist SEA Electric had four trucks on display, including a converted Hino GH-based garbage truck in Cleanaway livery (pictured) and an Isuzu FSR cab-chassis revealing all the SEA Electric components.

Elsewhere in the huge show hall was another FSR converted by SEA Electric product, this time configured with a tilt tray and taking pride of place on the Isuzu stand. This vehicle is part of an EV pilot being run by Isuzu and SEA Electric.

Last but not least, one of three electrified Hino 917 Series vehicles used by ANC to service furniture giant Ikea was parked in the outdoor South Bank Roadhouse area.

Daimler’s huge and impressive stand was home to a Mitsubishi Fuso e-Canter with an illuminated glass chassis cover revealing its all-electric drive system.

Unlike the converted models using technology developed by SEA Electric, the e-Canter is an in-house job.

The e-Canter is part of Daimler Trucks’ cross-brand consolidation of electrification projects into the Electro Mobility Group that is also developing the Mercedes-Benz eActros and Freightliner’s eCascadia and eM2.

Dana’s stand included an assembled Sumo HD electric drive system as used by SEA Electric, while Meritor showcased its Blue Horizon electrified axle technology and Eaton had its two-speed EV transmission on show.

The 2019 Brisbane Truck Show was a great reminder that vehicle manufacturing is very much alive in Australia and forging ahead with impressive levels of innovation.