Holcim and Foton Mobility Distribution (FMD), an Australian-owned distributor of innovative energy-efficient vehicles, have signed an agreement to trial the Foton e-AUMAN C EV concrete truck in Australia.

Holcim Australia will conduct a rigorous six-month evaluation of the Foton EV truck at a remote mine site near Port Hedland in Western Australia, subjecting it to difficult operating circumstances.

The trial will allow both parties to evaluate the truck’s viability, reliability, and performance under the specific operating conditions of ready-mix concrete distribution.

Holcim Australia and New Zealand Head of Sustainability Cyril Giraud said: “The initiative is aligned to Holcim’s global Accelerating Green Growth strategy. It serves as a local example of Holcim’s commitment to investing in zero-emissions vehicles, thereby helping to reduce environmental impacts while delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers.”

If successful and approved under Australian Design Rules (ADR) for public road use, the trial paves the way for Holcim to deliver its ECOPact low-carbon concrete products more sustainably, further assisting its customers in achieving their climate targets.

“By replacing one diesel concrete truck with an EV we will eliminate approximately 42 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year. This equates to a fuel cost saving of more than $33,000 per annum before further savings are extracted via lower service and maintenance costs,” said Giraud.

For its part, FMD will gain valuable insights into the performance of its larger zero-emissions trucks, having already achieved market leadership in the EV light-duty truck sector.

FMD CEO Neil Wang said: “Working with the Holcim team has been extremely enjoyable and very educational, helping us to better understand our customers’ requirements. We are looking forward to a successful trial in the harshest operating conditions in Australia, and to the valuable operational data that will enable further improvements to be made to our products.

“The introduction of the Foton EV concrete truck to the Australian market via this trial is the forerunner of a number of new and exciting Foton New Energy vehicles which will be introduced in 2024 in support of the transition to Net Zero. We look forward to assisting Holcim in its Accelerating Green Growth Strategy,” said Wang.

Giraud stated Holcim believes building progress means providing low-carbon products and reducing the company’s operational impact on the environment.

“Working together with Foton we are providing our customers with more options to help decarbonise the built environment.”