Centurion Transport has launched the first 20 of 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 battery electric trucks at its Perth Airport headquarters, marking the beginning of what will become Australia’s largest fully off-grid electric truck fleet. The $36 million project is powered entirely by on-site renewable energy, setting a new benchmark for sustainable freight operations.
The Fleet
The 20 eActros 300 trucks are now operating across Perth’s greater metropolitan area, handling general freight and retail distribution routes that were previously serviced by diesel vehicles. A further 10 trucks will be added later in 2025 to bring the total fleet to 30.
The vehicles are charged using energy generated entirely on-site through a 4.4MW rooftop solar installation at Centurion’s Perth Airport depot, paired with 10.3MWh of battery storage — enough energy to support approximately 900 Australian homes for a day. The first of two charging hubs, comprising 15 dual-port chargers, was commissioned in February 2025, allowing trucks to charge overnight or receive top-ups between shifts.
Funding and Partners
The project was made possible through $15.8 million in funding from ARENA (the Australian Renewable Energy Agency) under its Future Fuels Program. Project partners include Daimler Truck, bp Australia, Switch Batteries, and Cape Dunstans, each contributing expertise in vehicle supply, energy infrastructure, battery systems, and solar installation respectively.
Two Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) generators have also been installed to provide energy security during extended low-sunlight periods. The renewable synthetic diesel alternative, made from waste vegetable oils and animal fats, ensures the fleet can maintain operations even without solar generation.
Industry Significance
What distinguishes Centurion’s approach from other logistics electrification programs is the fully off-grid model. Rather than drawing power from the electricity grid to charge vehicles, the entire energy cycle — from generation through storage to vehicle charging — occurs on-site using renewable sources. This eliminates exposure to grid electricity pricing and removes any residual emissions from grid-sourced power.
For a company that has built its reputation over five decades servicing Western Australia’s mining and resources sectors, the investment signals a strategic pivot. Centurion is demonstrating that the operational principles that make it effective in remote, infrastructure-constrained environments — self-sufficiency, reliability, and integrated logistics — can be applied equally to urban sustainability challenges.
The remaining 10 trucks and the second charging hub are expected to be operational by mid-2025, at which point Centurion will operate the largest off-grid battery electric truck fleet in the country.