But the company behind their creation says governments will need to reform transport policies to boost adoption of the heavy vehicles and ensure they can travel on more roads.
Volvo unveiled the first battery-powered prime movers made at its Brisbane facility on Wednesday at an event attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and representatives from the Electric Vehicle Council and Australian Made Campaign.
The announcement follows record sales of electric cars in June and after conflict in the Middle East raised the price of diesel, challenging freight operators.
Volvo's national headquarters in Wacol, Brisbane's south-west, will manufacture electric trucks on the same production line as diesel-powered vehicles, Volvo Group Australia president Martin Merrick said.
Its electric trucks would be able to move up to 40 tonnes of freight, travel for up to 700 kilometres on a single charge, and could be recharged in 40 minutes, he said.
''This day has been a long time coming for us,'' he told AAP.
''These trucks will have zero noise pollution, zero tailpipe emissions so if we think about a city in an urban environment where we have school kids, older generations … imagine a city in future that's pollution-free.''
Some of Volvo's first locally made electric trucks would be used by Linfox, while another firm had ordered 10 electric trucks, Mr Merrick said.
The prime minister said the Clean Energy Finance Corporation had invested $70 million in Volvo's facility to accelerate electric truck production, which would support locally made goods and help firms move to low-emission transport.
''This isn't just an Australian-made electric truck, it's an investment in local jobs, manufacturing and local industry,'' Mr Albanese said.
''I remember a few years ago a statement about, you know, it can't tow your boat, can't tow your caravan — these are big heavy vehicles that are every bit as good as vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.''
Heavy transport accounts for about seven per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, and are forecast to increase by 16 per cent in 2040, according to government estimates.
Changes to local, state and federal government restrictions on heavy vehicles, such as axle weight limits, would be needed to boost electric truck adoption, and ensure the cleaner vehicles could be driven in more places, Mr Merrick said.
''We truly need Australia to come together, to have harmonised legislation and we'll see the adoption rate increase,'' he said.
''If that was to happen, we would see the demand increase significantly.''
