SEA Electric has won the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia’s Product Innovation Award for 2021 for its all-electric trucks.
Assembled in Melbourne, the SEA 300 EV and SEA 500 EV are now available from dealers nationwide and the company also has a New Zealand presence.
This move to series production in Australia has resulted in SEA Electric becoming the country’s latest OEM, fully backed by a comprehensive aftersales offering including factory warranties and roadside service through NTI.
Launched earlier this year, the two EV model trucks represent the first comprehensive battery electric powered truck range available globally, with applications available from 4.5 tonne car licence vehicles through to 22.5 tonne three-axle trucks, SEA Electric says.
Its range features leading performance, range possibilities and whisper-quiet operation, with zero local carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, or methane emissions.
For SEA Electric, the HVIA award, which recognises industry members who have designed and utilised new technology or built an innovative product to address the growing road freight task, affirms its commitment to the Australian market.
“This is a proud day for SEA Electric and acknowledges the pioneering efforts by the team to develop world-leading technology that is genuinely making a positive impact on the environment,” SEA Electric Asia-Pacific president Bill Gillespie says.
“The transport industry is the second highest producer of carbon dioxide emissions across the country outside of traditional power generation, and this is clearly a subject that will continue to be under the microscope as the industry investigates future options.
“Here at SEA Electric, we are at the forefront of providing cutting edge products that have been extensively tested in the field and have been warmly embraced by companies looking to take environmental leadership.”
The industry recognition is validation of years of development carried out by the company, SEA Electric Asia-Pacific region vice president Glen Walker says.
“Producing these trucks here in Australia for Australia, and distributing and supporting them via a national dealer network, is resonating positively within the marketplace,” he says.
The SEA Electric range of trucks are assembled in Melbourne from Semi Knocked Down (SKD) kits, with the truck cab mated to chassis rails, suspension, wheels and the patented SEA-Drive power-system.
The drive train is currently available in four specifications, ranging from 134kW/700Nm, through to 350kW/3500Nm, with various battery capacities available between 88kWh and 220kWh.
Future-proofed with an upgradable plug and play architecture, the SEA-Drive power-system can be charged via the world’s most extensive charging network, which is 415V three-phase power through the truck’s standard onboard charging equipment, with optional DC fast charging also available.
Lower maintenance and running costs are possible, with diesel consumption eliminated and fewer moving parts minimising service costs and time, the powertrain producing no noise or fumes while reducing vibrations and its mid-mounted configuration providing additional safety and stability.
The SEA-Drive power-system had previously been offered to the market as a retrofit option for existing internal combustion engine powered vehicles, however, this fresh process of assembling the trucks from new results in less wastage, quicker build times and lower costs, the company says.
While SEA Electric is an Australian success story, the company firmly has its sights set on global leadership, with a presence now across five continents.
The company recently notched up a single order in North America for 1150 units, with further significant announcements due soon.
Read the full article at Auto Talk by Geoff Dobson published on November 24, 2021.
