Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and technology company JET Charge has announced it has completed one of Australia’s biggest electric delivery vehicle charging projects in partnership with homeware retailer IKEA Australia, with the company having installed 59 chargers at seven locations across the country.
JETCharge said that supporting IKEA on its path to reach 100 per cent zero-emissions deliveries has seen the project provide the essential infrastructure to enable delivery partners to shift to zero-emission vehicles at scale.
The company said that Australia’s logistics sector accelerates toward net zero one of the biggest challenges is building the charging infrastructure to make it possible.
It cited Australia’s Electric VehicleCouncil, in saying that depot-based charging and grid-readiness are key enablers for decarbonising logistics, yet critical gaps remainacross the country.
JET Charge said its project with IKEA demonstrates how retailers can integrate scalable infrastructure across complex, national operations, offering a replicable model for businesses looking to transition their commercial fleets.”
“This project proves that zero-emission logistics isn’t just possible, it’s scalable and by building intelligent, fit-for-purpose infrastructure, we’ve given delivery partners the reliability they need on the road and delivered IKEA the visibility to lead real emissions reductions across its supply chains, and it’s a blueprint any retailer can follow.” said JET Charge co-founder and CEO, Tim Washington.
“Sales of commercial EV vans and trucks remain limited, but they are increasing, and the vehicles available in the market today can have an immediate impact on emissions reductions,” Washington said.
“Decarbonising delivery fleets is considered an essential driver in meeting Australia’s climatetargets, and one of the most effective solutions for companies looking to reduce their emissions,” he said.
“The financial investment in dedicated charging infrastructure will enable broader scale adoptionof delivery vehicles by providing access for delivery drivers to recharge at sites owned by retailers and delivery companies,” said Washington.
JET Charge said that the impact of its rollout is showing in numbers, with more than 100 vehicles now charging at IKEA sites to enable zero emission delivery.
The company said that this indicates the strong demand with third-party delivery partners and proves that investing in the infrastructure internally is extremely effective for business.
“Rolling out EV charging at scale is a critical step in achieving zero emission delivery and JET Charge’s infrastructure and implementation of the project, which spans the majority of our Australian delivery network, is already having a significant impact,” said IKEA’s zero emission delivery project lead forAustralia and New Zealand, Alexandra Kelly.
The company said that by October this year 83 per cent of IKEA’s deliveries are now completed by zero-emission vehicles,
“This model is helping it rapidly reduce emissions and accelerate towards our goal of 100 per cent zero emission and we aim to hit 90 per cent by the end of 2025 with the last 10 per cent coming when technology allows,” Kelly said.
