Christine Holgate has helped secure millions in funding to electrify a major truck fleet.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has committed $30 million to support the electrification of the truck fleet of Team Global Express, a major player in Australia's transport and logistics sector. 

Team Global Express plans to utilise this funding to deploy over 300 battery electric and hybrid vehicles, including light, medium, and rigid trucks, courier vans, and refrigerated trucks. 

The initiative also includes the installation of mobile charging units across Melbourne, Sydney, and Queensland over the next three years.

Christine Holgate, Group CEO of Team Global Express, says: “Team Global Express is pleased to work with the CEFC as we embark on the further electrification of our vehicle fleet”.

Holgate was thrust into the spotlight as CEO of Australia Post in October 2020 when it was revealed during a Senate Estimates hearing that she had approved the purchase of Cartier watches worth $20,000 as rewards for senior executives. 

This decision, although within her discretionary powers, became a lightning rod for public and political outrage.

Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison wanted her replaced, and declared in Parliament that if Holgate did not voluntarily stand aside, “she can go”. 

The public denunciation made Holgate’s position untenable, and pushed her to step down from her role.

She later accused the Australia Post board and the government of bullying and humiliating her, leading to a Senate inquiry that found that Holgate had been subjected to “a biased, one-sided investigation”, and that her removal was not fair.

Now working for the private sector transport company, she has helped secure major government funding. 

Speaking about the EV fleet money, CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said it would go toward reducing emissions from the transport sector, which accounts for 21 per cent of Australia's total emissions. 

“As our economy continues to decarbonise, transport is likely to become the largest source of emissions by 2030,” he said.

Learmonth emphasised the urgency for Australia to keep pace with international efforts in vehicle electrification to avoid being left behind. 

The CEFC's concessional finance is aimed at overcoming one of the primary barriers to electric truck adoption: the high upfront cost. 

The investment from CEFC is part of a larger $190 million lending facility supported by various financiers, including Commonwealth Bank Australia, IFM Investors, Daimler Trucks Financial Services, and Income Asset Management. 

Rory Lonergan, CEFC CIO – Infrastructure and Alternatives, noted the importance of electrifying road transport beyond passenger vehicles. 

“Without decarbonising the wider transport sector, we will not be able to reach our net zero targets by 2050,” he said.

Heavy vehicles, which constitute about four per cent of the road vehicle fleet, consume 25 per cent of all road transport fuel in Australia.

The authorities say electrifying these vehicles could save Australia an estimated $233 billion in costs related to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and water pollution by 2050.

The CEFC has committed $62 million to date to finance more than 5,500 electric vehicles. This includes investments in Australia's first electrified bus fleet and support for EV infrastructure through partnerships with companies like JETCharge and Ark Energy.