New Energy Transport’s first Volvo heavy electric prime mover has entered commercial service for Unilever, hauling essential consumer goods across Sydney. The first of 11 Volvo trucks joining the fleet over the next 12 months.
July 13, 2026
5 mins
NET takes delivery of first Volvo electric truck as Unilever signs on as foundation customer
New Energy Transport (NET) has taken delivery of its first Volvo heavy electric prime mover and signed leading global consumer goods company Unilever as its foundation customer. The truck, handed over at a ceremony with NET, Volvo and Unilever on Sydney Harbour, is the first of 11 Volvo trucks NET will put on the road over the next 12 months.
It is also the first truck operational under a Volvo Financial Services arrangement with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to reduce the cost of leasing heavy electric trucks in Australia.
Unilever on board as foundation customer
The truck enters commercial service immediately, hauling essential consumer goods on daily weekday deliveries from Unilever’s distribution centre at Ingleburn to customer sites across Sydney. The partnership makes Unilever one of the first major consumer goods companies in Australia to put electric heavy vehicle road freight to work.
Unilever’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Brooke Sprott, said decarbonising heavy freight transport is “one of the most complex challenges in our supply chain, and it’s not something any company can solve alone”, describing the partnership as an important step in accelerating progress towards net zero emissions across Unilever’s value chain.
NET Co-CEO Fredrik Pehrsson said Unilever’s decision to put electric trucks to work in Sydney was “an example of real leadership”.
“Electric road freight means lower costs, greater reliability and a real cut in emissions, and it’s brands like Unilever that will drive the shift at scale, decarbonising their supply chains while delivering greater efficiency.” Said Pehrsson.
Volvo’s “Total offer” lowers the barriers
Volvo brings more than the vehicle itself: proven electric truck technology, a financing arrangement with the CEFC that lowers the cost of entry, and an extensive dealer and service network that brings certainty on vehicle uptime for NET and its customers.
Roger Alm, Executive Vice President of Volvo Group and President of Volvo Trucks, said the partnership “shows how the transition to lower-emission transport is moving forward through collaboration”.
Volvo Group Australia President Martin Merrick said the moment brings together three things essential for the transition ahead: “a customer ready to lead, a freight operator ready to invest, and a truck partner with proven technology and support in place”.
Building the Rapid Deployment Plan
The announcements come just weeks after NET unveiled its Rapid Deployment Plan, backed by an initial $5 million equity raise led by Jekara Group and facilitated by Pollination, to put 20 electric trucks supported by six mobile charging units on Australian roads before the end of 2026.
Over the coming months NET will take delivery of the rest of the Volvo fleet and install a network of rapid charging stations across NSW.
From first truck to national network
NET is building Australia’s first vertically integrated electric freight platform. The centrepiece is Australia’s largest planned heavy electric trucking depot at Wilton in NSW, recently selected under the Federal Government’s Investor Front Door program as a project of national significance. Anchoring freight corridors between Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra, the Wilton depot is expected to be operational in late 2027 with initial capacity for 50 trucks, expanding to 200 over time. NET is also progressing plans for a network of electric road freight depots connecting Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane by 2031.
“Today’s announcements are just the start,” said NET Co-CEO Daniel Bleakley. “We’re racing to meet a surge in demand from some of Australia’s largest transport buyers for electric road freight. New Energy Transport is building the foundation of a vertically integrated electric freight network connecting the entire east coast and beyond. Momentum is growing, with Volvo Trucks and Unilever helping to lead the charge.”
