IKEA has invested $4.5 million to create dedicated EV chargers for delivery partners at all IKEA stores across the country.
In partnership with JET Charge, there will be electric charging and energy management systems installed for six vehicles at each of the ten IKEA stores around Australia, plus charging for 28 vehicles at its Central Distribution Centre warehouse in Sydney’s Marsden Park.
Alexandra Kelly, Zero Emissions Delivery Lead, IKEA Australia, said by investing in a national network of dedicated chargers for electric trucks and vans at all IKEA sites, they are providing access to electric charging at the point of fulfilment where orders are being picked up.
“We have made exciting progress with electrifying our fleet, especially in the last 12 months, but we know a significant barrier for our delivery partners being able to make the switch to an electric vehicle is limited access to charging infrastructure.
“With the support of innovative partners like JET Charge, we hope to address key challenges like this for the freight and logistics sector. Supporting our delivery partners to electrify sees us move closer to our overall goal of 100 per cent zero emissions truck deliveries at IKEA Australia, but more importantly, we believe it can also help drive further positive change we want to see in the industry as an investment in the future of last mile delivery.”
The new electric chargers are a mix of AC and DC charging options to cater to the different needs of IKEA delivery partners’ trucks and vans, with 22kW and 20kW for overnight charging, and 75kW and 150kW for fast charging, as well as the JET Charge CORE energy management system which allows energy to be intelligently controlled within the site.
Tim Washington, CEO of JET Charge, said the reliability of EV charging infrastructure is fundamental to the adoption of electric fleets, particularly within the logistics sector where every morning counts.
“IKEA trucks and vans need to be fully charged and ready to make deliveries without fail. With over a decade of expertise in EV charging conceptual design, energy management, and advanced technological integration, JET Charge is committed to ensuring that all IKEA sites are not only safe but also resilient. We are proud to partner with visionary companies like IKEA to enable them to deliver sustainably and on time for their customers.”
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