South Australian company VE Motion last week launched Australia’s first commercially available driven powered trailer system, giving heavy transport operators a new way to cut fuel costs, improve efficiency and boost performance without replacing existing trucks.
The VE Motion Powered Trailer System – which will be on show at TruckShowX 2026 to be held May 18-19 in the Hunter Valley – electrifies the trailer rather than the prime mover, delivering propulsion assist, regenerative braking and onboard power for trailer-based systems. The result is significantly lower diesel use, improved vehicle performance and reduced emissions, while continuing to operate with the trucks fleets already own.
The system has been engineered, integrated and brought to market in South Australia, with the powered trailer systems built and assembled in Murray Bridge. This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program.
VE Motion Co-founder and CEO Dean Panos says 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,” he says.
“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 believes powered trailers offer a practical alternative. “They deliver real fuel savings, of up to 50 per cent 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.”
Co-founded by Dean Panos and Stephen Bussenschutt, VE Motion designs and builds heavy-duty trailers as well as electrified systems, giving the team first-hand experience into what freight operators need on the road.
“Our motivation was to rewrite the value equation for the transport industry,” Panos says. “We did not want hype or theory. We wanted to build something useful – equipment that cuts fuel use, reduces emissions and improves performance, without adding headaches. The industry does not want disruption. It wants gear that works.”
The VE Motion Powered Trailer System is now commercially available and has been demonstrated operating on South Australian roads as part of a heavy-vehicle combination.
Unlike full-electric vehicles, the system operates as a plug-in hybrid. It provides electric propulsion and energy recovery when conditions allow, and can operate in diesel only mode when required, ensuring vehicles are never stranded by range or charging constraints.
“All of the system integration, control architecture, development and testing has been done here in South Australia,” Panos adds.
“We have taken proven componentry and engineered a complete system around Australian routes, loads and conditions. This is a locally built solution for local operators.”
VE Motion has invested more than $4 million since 2018 into research and development, engineering, prototyping, compliance and real-world validation to bring the powered trailer system to market.
How It Works
The VE Motion Powered Trailer System is supplied as a complete modular kit that can be fitted to new or existing heavy-duty trailers. Installation can be carried out by freight operators or trailer manufacturers using familiar components and processes.
Rather than electrifying the prime mover, the system places propulsion, energy storage and control systems directly on the trailer. The system includes:
> E-axle – featuring a 295kW Linamar electric drive unit, integrating motor, gearbox and inverter into a compact assembly with a gross axle weight rating of up to 10 tonnes.
> Scalable battery packs known as rechargeable electrical energy storage systems (200kWh, 400kWh and 600kWh) mounted between the trailer chassis rails on custom brackets.
> Embedded control and safety systems, including a battery management system, safety contactor box, power distribution unit and vehicle control unit.
During operation, the powered trailer provides propulsion reducing load on the prime mover. Regenerative braking captures energy normally lost during braking and stores it in the battery system. The system can also power trailer based auxiliary systems such as pumps, blowers and refrigeration units without requiring the prime mover to idle.
Because the system supplements, rather than replaces, the internal combustion engine, trucks can continue operating even if battery charge is depleted.
Savings And Environmental Benefits
VE Motion estimates it can deliver big operating cost and environmental benefits including: up to 50 per cent reduction in diesel consumption (equating to $50,000 to $200,000 in annual diesel savings up to 125,000 litres); offsetting 80-300 tonnes of carbon emissions per vehicle per year; reduced noise and tailpipe emissions; lower engine, brake and retarder wear; improved acceleration, hill climbing and gradability; and 400hp of propulsion assist improving productivity and reducing cycle times.
HVIA Chief Technology Officer Adam Ritzinger – who was on-hand with industry stakeholders to observe and participate in the launch – says the system is “truly seamless”.
“The trailer’s drive effortlessly assists on the hills, and regenerates energy on the descents. You wouldn’t even know it is there, except the truck drives as if its towing five tonnes, not 25 tonnes. And from the outside, it looks like any other trailer!” he adds.
“Even when you know something is going to be game-changing, experiencing it for the first time can still take you by surprise. I am really looking forward to providing TruckShowX attendees the opportunity to view the technology in the flesh in the Hunter Valley in May this year.”