Aeolus Truck & Driver News

New Zealand’s first fully electric semi- trailer has been launched ahead of a local trial for the new zero-emissions transport solution.

The Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe COOL three-axle semi-trailer is equipped with an electric refrigeration unit, high-voltage battery system, an e-axle generator and integrated power electronics.

The introduction of the S.KOe COOL trailer is the latest initiative in an eight-year partnership between local trailer market sales leader Fruehauf NZ and German company Schmitz Cargobull.

Electric energy recuperated from a 20kW e-axle generator attached to the second axle of the trailer powers the refrigeration unit, taking the place of a diesel gene...

New Zealand’s first hydrogen-powered truck ticked over 100,000km of commercial operations with NZ Post near Huntly, late in the evening of July 24.

The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck arrived in New Zealand in late-2021. Following a conversion to right-hand-drive it has been in full commercial operations with NZ Post since 2023, making it the first truck of its kind to be put to the test in New Zealand.

Hyundai says the 100,000km milestone demonstrates that hydrogen can be a reliable and efficient replacement to traditional diesel trucks with equivalent range, refuelling times and payloads.

By travelling 100,000km on hydrogen, the truck has...

Transport operators say heavy vehicle access to a rapidly developing commercial and industrial zone in the Waikato will be choked by an unrealistic new roundabout design.

The Waipa District Council is nearing completion of the new roundabout on Hautapu Rd (a section of State Highway 1B). It’s a key access point to the fast growing Hautapu area adjacent to the Waikato Expressway.

Some local transport operators have raised concerns that the roundabout is poorly designed for heavy vehicles – in particular over-dimension units. They also say there’s been a frustrating lack of consultation from Waipa council.

Mike Ross of C&R Developments operates a flee...

The Scania New Zealand service network has been expanded with a new facility in Invercargill to support the brand’s growing southern customer base.

The new branch located 20 Wallacetown-Lorneville Highway, Invercargill opened mid-June. The state-of-the-art facility has a 10-bay drive-through capacity with the ability to accommodate 15 technicians, replacing the previous four-bay drive through workshop that housed 10 technicians.

Scania NZ’s Dealer Director for the Southern Region, Kelly Henshaw, says this new facility offers a one-stop shop to meet our customer requirements from a single location, ensuring their uptime is maximised and downtime minimised.

Truck rental and leasing company TR Group is looking for new options in the wake of fuel cell truck supplier Hyzon Motors shutting down its Australian operation earlier this month.

It was announced in late-2020 that Hyzon was to be the supplier of an initial fleet of 20 trucks for the New Zealand evaluation programme. The trucks were being leased by TR Group to local transport companies and refuelled at the network of hydrogen stations being established by Hiringa Energy and Waitomo Group.

Hyzon is a U.S.-based manufacturer and supplier of hydrogen fuel cell systems and trucks. It’s head office announced on July 8 it was immediately closing operations in Au...