TNT Launches Australia’s First Hybrid Truck Fleet

30 April 2008

A Hino hybrid truck.

TNT Express Australia has put 10 Hino Hybrid trucks into service, becoming the first business in Australia to start operating a fleet of diesel-electric hybrid as replacements for conventionally powered vehicles.

Speaking at the official launch of the hybrid truck fleet in Sydney, TNT Express Australia Managing Director Roger Corcoran said the new vehicles would reduce TNT’s greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 kilograms of CO₂ a year per vehicle.

This is an historic first step by TNT Express in Australia to prepare itself for the inevitable emergence of a carbon economy. TNT accepts that climate change is a reality and we believe that all businesses must adopt new strategies in order to meet looming carbon emissions reduction targets.

—Roger Corcoran

Hino introduced the Dutro Hybrid in November 2003, and released a new model in 2006. TNT first began trials of the Hino Dutro hybrid in 2004. The hybrid combines a 4.0-liter 110 kW (134 hp) turbodiesel engine that develops 392 Nm (289 lb-ft) of torque at 1,600 rpm with a 23 kW, 143 Nm electric motor and a six-speed transmission. The battery pack is a 273V, 6.5 Ah NiMH system, with liquid coolant battery pack.

TNT tests showed that under real-world operating conditions, the Hino Hybrid truck emits 14% less carbon dioxide than a conventional diesel-engined truck of equivalent size. The hybrid vehicle also reduces NO_x emissions by almost half and PM by 98.9%.

TNT is taking a fairly pragmatic approach to this and will consider putting more hybrid trucks into service as and when new trucks are required.

—Roger Corcoran

TNT is installing a certified system to measure, report and manage its CO₂ emissions.