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https://thedriven.io/2026/02/10/how-battery-powered-truck-trailers-can-cut-diesel-use-by-up-to-50-pct/>
"South Australian company VE Motion has launched Australia’s first commercially
available powered trailer system for heavy transport, offering a large battery
pack for the trailer – instead of the prime mover – that it says can cut diesel
use by up to 50 per cent.
VE Motion says its Powered Trailer System allows fleet owners to significantly
reduce their fuel costs through efficiency improvements, as well as boosting
performance via propulsion assist, regenerative braking and onboard power for
trailer-based systems like pumps, blowers and refrigeration units.
The trailer system has been designed and engineered in South Australia, with VE
Motion investing more than $4 million into research and development since 2018.
Trailer systems are built and assembled in Murray Bridge, SA.
VE Motion Co-founder and CEO Dean Panos said the idea for the system came from
a simple observation that diesel remains the most expensive and
highest-emission fuel in Australia’s energy mix, yet it still powers almost all
heavy transport.
“From our background in power generation, it was clear that electrification
makes sense for heavy transport from an operating cost perspective,” Mr Panos
said.
“The problem is that full-electric trucks come with very high capital costs,
added mass, range limitations and operational disruption. That is why uptake
has been almost non-existent.” Panos said powered trailers offered a practical
alternative.
“They deliver real fuel savings, of up to 50% on diesel, more power and better
efficiency, without forcing operators to replace fleets or change how they
work. That is why we built VE Motion, to make that solution work for Australian
conditions.”
A base trailer kit with 200 kWh battery pack starts from under $200,000. “This
is roughly a quarter the price of a battery electric prime mover, while still
providing half the benefits in terms of diesel savings and carbon emissions.”
co-founder and CTO Stephen Bussenschutt added."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
