As the world moves to reduce its reliance upon hydrocarbons, Bay of Plenty company Heavy Vehicle and Machinery Services (HVMS) is leading the charge with innovative, cost-effective solutions for fleet and commercial operators wanting to move to electric power.
HVMS has built a hub of expertise in heavy electric vehicle conversion in recent years. That expertise covers the spectrum of options for operators, from brand new vehicle purchase, to retrofitting conventional powered vehicles, and providing hybrid hydrogen-diesel engine options.
HVMS business development manager Mark Irving says it is an exciting time for the team at HVMS as New Zealand moves to lower carbon commitments.
“HVMS has strong ties to the Bay, thanks to ownership shared between Whakatāne company East Coast Heavy Diesel, and Waikato based Pro Mechanical.
“Both companies are well respected, with strong service ties to many major engine makers, while HVMS brings the valuable international contacts for electrical engine and component supply.”
The most recent international alliance HVMS has built is with UK based electric engine company AEM. This partnership was ratified with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between both companies, and endorsed early June 2023 by the United Kingdom Trade Envoy, the Rt Hon David Mundell MP, during his visit to NZ for the UK-NZ Free Trade Agreement.
AEM is recognised for its leading-edge electric engines, claimed to be the most sustainable electric engines made today.
“They have developed an engine completely free of rare earth elements. Rare earth metals are controlled by China and generate significant amounts of waste and emissions when processed for electric engines.”
AEM’s engines are estimated to be capable of saving emissions of 130 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and 300,000 tonnes of radioactive waste. At the end of the AEM engine’s life only steel and aluminium components requiring recycling. The engines also claim significant lifts in power to weight efficiency, and high levels of reliability so vital for commercial operators.
“As a small right hand drive market at the bottom of the world, New Zealand is at the end of the queue when it comes to receiving new electric vehicles.
“Our alliance with AEM, and the ability to retrofit fleets, offers a quicker more affordable way to decarbonise sustainably. The partnership provides access to truck technology normally the New Zealand market would not be privy to, given our distance from the rest of the world and small size.”
New Zealand is only now playing catch up with the rest of the world in developing a hydrogen fuel network for supplying vehicles.
HVMS is playing a big part in the conversion process, building a $14 million facility at Tauriko for vehicle conversion and a training facility for vehicle technicians.
These skills and experience are also helping build an international reputation for fleet conversion, with HVMS now working closely with Fortune 500 company PTTEP on a hydrogen fuel conversion project within Thailand.
“Our alliance with a leader in electric engine technology, and our locally based skills in heavy equipment mean we can deliver New Zealand operators a cost effective, practical decarbonised solution.”
