Meeting our emissions reduction goal won’t only make our environment better: it will also create opportunities for businesses to grow. Victoria is expecting to gain $63 billion in economic benefits and create thousands of jobs.
Since 2014, Victoria has reduced its overall emissions at the fastest rate of any state in the country.
Victoria’s emissions reduction targets provide a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the economy. Emissions have declined in recent years, but there is still a lot more to do, especially in areas like road transport and the freight and logistics sectors.
Our focus for change
- We’re working with industry to decarbonise our $36 billion freight sector through actions in the Victorian Freight Plan.
- The plan is the freight system roadmap for the next five years, developed in close collaboration with industry.
- The plan gives industry certainty and confidence to invest and support trialling and transitioning to low or zero-emission freight vehicles, infrastructure and technologies.
- We're investing to make the rail-freight network stronger and more flexible, reducing heavy vehicle trips and pollution.
- We're also creating maps to give certainty for low/zero emission heavy vehicles to travel across more parts of the state.
Victorian Freight Decarbonisation Co-Investment Program
To help industry reduce emissions, an $8 million Victorian Freight Decarbonisation Co-Investment Program has been established for small and medium businesses. It aims to help small-and medium-sized freight businesses.
We’ve announced the successful recipients, over 30 businesses statewide. The program will help them purchase electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and adopt new decarbonisation technologies.
Successful applicants will also help gather and share insights on how transport operators can reduce emissions and adopt new technologies.
It supports the shift towards decarbonisation, Victoria’s legislated Climate Action targets and community expectations for climate action and improved air quality.
Victorian Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial
The Victorian Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial is giving freight operators the chance to trial electric heavy vehicles.
The two-year trial, in partnership with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), is supporting the uptake of electric heavy vehicles by giving operators access to a subsidised leasing model.
The trial is helping operators gain experience with electric heavy vehicles.
The trial is also helping freight operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to gather data and driver feedback to understand the capabilities, limitations and costs of electric vehicles across various freight tasks and routes
The trial will give valuable data on vehicle performance, charging patterns, operational feasibility and help identify operational barriers.
We thank the VTA, Velocity Truck Centres, Laverton and all partners involved, including Daimler Truck Australia, Pacific RSM Group Pty Ltd, Royans Transport Accident Repairs, RACV Commercial, Energy Solutions, and Fleet Plant Hire Solutions.
For details or to apply, visit the Victorian Transport Association's page on the Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial.
Collaborating with industry
In October 2023, we brought stakeholders together at a Freight Industry Decarbonisation Summit to find solutions to make transport more eco-friendly.
Discussions focused on new technologies, collaboration and policy development to support net-zero emissions.
Industry leaders shared their experiences and ideas for reducing emissions in freight transport. They highlighted opportunities to adopt cleaner technologies and more sustainable ways of working.
Insights from the summit helped shape advice on reducing emissions across the freight sector.
Access maps
A new Low or Zero Emission Heavy Vehicle (LZEHV) access map is available for Volvo FM or FH Semi-Trailers (7.5t steer, 44.0t GCM).
This map provides truck operators with a pre-approved access route for their eco-friendly truck on specific Victorian roads.
View the Volvo Access Map(opens in a new window)
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has also recently developed the Future Heavy Vehicle Roadmap to prioritise heavy vehicle reforms.
Port Rail Shuttle Network
The Port Rail Shuttle Network will connect the Port of Melbourne to major freight hubs, making rail freight easier for businesses to use.
Because road transport produces significantly more carbon emissions than rail, the network will also support Victoria’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.
Find out more by viewing Port Rail Shuttle Network.
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