Australia’s freight industry underpins our economy as a critical factor in connecting regions, industries, and communities. Yet, it is also one of the most complex sectors to decarbonise, while facing growing challenges around fuel security. Within this system, line haul road transport stands out as particularly challenging: long distances, heavy payloads unique to Australia, and limited refuelling infrastructure make the transition to net zero difficult, with no clear pathway yet established.
Navigating the Scalability of Line Haul Technology Pathways in Australia
For the first time in Australia, leaders across the entire line haul value chain – from freight operators and customers to energy providers and financiers – have mobilised to engage on a viable path to decarbonisation. Since 2024, nine CLC member CEOs took a significant step forward in collectively reviewing and assessing different technologies, with an agreed focus on renewable diesel (RD), battery electric vehicles (BEV), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
The scope of the work extends beyond a theoretical assessment. The project partners have collaborated on and explored practical deployment of the technologies along the 900km long Sydney to Melbourne corridor. With this, they aim to prove the concept of heavy duty line haul decarbonisation technologies, obtain operational and commercial learnings to the benefit of the industry and government, demonstrate tangible progress, and build industry momentum and demand signalling to the market.
