AdBlue shortage highlights fuel insecurity, but there is a solution

Electric vehicle leaders and industry figures are calling on the Federal Government to offer greater incentives on electrified trucks to ease pressure caused by the ongoing AdBlue shortage.

Critical supplies of the diesel exhaust fluid are expected to increase in the coming weeks and months, following the announcement of additional manufacturing at a Brisbane fertiliser facility operated by company Incitec Pivot.

UPDATE, January 25, 2022: Relief in sight, as large AdBlue delivery begins across Australia

Though representatives from trucking and supply-chain groups have told WhichCar they all support the news of an increased supply of AdBlue, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) have gone a step further and encouraged the Government to do more to increase the number of electric trucks on our roads.

“The AdBlue shortage crisis was a potent warning about our extreme fuel insecurity,” EVC CEO Behyad Jafari said.

“Why should Australia be dependent on China and the Middle East to keep itself moving when we could be using homegrown power? Being able to power our supply chains with local electricity is surely a national sovereignty imperative.”

The ATA and EVC have put together policy recommendations, which they say will increase the number of electric commercial vehicles offered by manufacturers – as well as the amount purchased by operators.

“We need the Government to read these recommendations and get moving fast. If we implement them swiftly the benefits to Australian trucking, our economy, and our environment will be truly massive,” Jafari said.

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ATA Chair David Smith says the switch to electric benefits the operator, too: “It costs about $117 to fuel a diesel truck for 300 kilometres, but just $18 for an electric truck.”

The joint statement says Australia only receives 14 of the 58 electric trucks currently made around the world, with Government policies causing many of the roadblocks.

“If Australia gets left behind on the transition to electric and zero emission trucks, we risk our supply chains and exporters getting stuck with high, globally uncompetitive per-kilometre freight costs,” Smith said.

“Trucking operators face a number of barriers to buy and use an electric truck and these must be addressed to lower freight costs, improve fuel security and reduce emissions.”

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While not specifically addressing the need to incentivise electric trucks, the Government told WhichCar "Australia currently has sufficient volumes of AdBlue to meet our needs" and "decisive action to support Incitec Pivot has seen a rapid ramp up of AdBlue production".

“The Australian Government continues to work together with industry to ensure that our vital trucking, mining and agricultural industries remain fully supplied with AdBlue following the unexpected withdrawal of Chinese supply,” a spokesperson for the Minister for Industry, Energy, and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor added.