This Lessons Learnt Report presents findings from the early deployment phase, focusing on the challenges of electrifying a last-mile logistics fleet.
Report extract
This report presents early insights from Project Spark, Australia’s largest electric vehicle (EV) fleet trial for last-mile logistics, covering progress from November 2024 to May 2025. It focuses on technical, financial, and operational learnings to inform future decarbonisation efforts in transport. Key findings include:
- Deployment of 112 EVs is underway, with real-time data guiding continuous improvements. While driver confidence has increased, challenges remain with charging downtime and vehicle range, partly due to energy use by tail-lifts and urban braking. Custom vehicle builds and ongoing calibration have proven necessary to meet last-mile performance requirements.
- Development of depot charging infrastructure has faced delays caused by grid upgrade needs and funding constraints. Public charging stations are currently unsuitable for large-format commercial vehicles, highlighting a gap in infrastructure that must be addressed to support fleet expansion.
- Financial viability is challenged by high upfront costs and uncertain residual values. The project has identified the need for tailored EV financial products and co-investment models to improve business case outcomes and encourage broader adoption.
- Limited availability of verified renewable energy sources restricts the ability to claim full emissions reductions. Transparent data reporting and performance monitoring have helped build client trust, but long-term decarbonisation depends on integrating verifiable renewable inputs.
