Electric milk tanker on the road in NZ for Fonterra

Claimed to be New Zealand’s first electric milk tanker, Milk-E has been officially launched by the Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon. Dr Megan Woods, in Morrinsville. The tanker was named by Fonterra farmer Stephen Todd from Murchison and is part of the Co-op’s fleet decarbonisation work.

“Right across the Co-op, our teams are constantly looking at how we can decrease our emissions — from on farm, to at our sites and throughout our transport network,” said the Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra, Fraser Whineray.

“The team here at our Morrinsville Workshop have done a fantastic job of pulling this tanker together. Being a New Zealand first, there’s been a lot of creative thinking and Kiwi ingenuity to bring Milk-E to life.”

The electric tanker is the same size as Fonterra’s regular tanker with the capacity to carry 28,000 L; however, because the ‘truck’ part of the tanker is a bit heavier with the battery it will carry around 2300 L of milk less so it can operate within permitted weight.

A battery swap system is being installed at the Waitoa site where Milk-E will be based to trial how this could work within a fleet to minimise downtime from battery charging.

“It’s been great to see the team turn challenges into opportunities so in addition to trialling Milk-E’s on-road ability, we’re also trialling a new electric pump, hose configuration and cabinetry,” Whineray said.

Fonterra received co-funding from the Government’s Low Emissions Transport Fund (LEFT), which is administered by EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority).

EECA Group Manager Investment and Engagement Nicki Sutherland said, “We’re pleased to see this project come to life. New Zealand has ambitious targets to rapidly reduce carbon emissions, and transport is key, but heavy freight has proven hard to decarbonise. If successful, this project could be replicated across a number of New Zealand businesses.”

The electric milk tanker will operate out of Fonterra’s Waitoa site, which Whineray says is very fitting given it was the site of New Zealand’s largest fleet of electric milk trucks 100 years ago.