“Milk tankers typically spend hours each day idling while pumping,” says Naish, who first identified the opportunity during the 2017–18 fuel price spike. “It’s a hidden inefficiency. We wanted to electrify the process in a way that didn’t rely on external charging infrastructure.”

An independent analysis by Dr Digby Symons of the University of Canterbury has confirmed the system’s impressive performance compared to conventional mechanical PTO systems, which require the truck engine to idle while milk is being pumped.

Dr Symons has concluded that data suggests that significant savings of fuel consumption and total engine running hours may be made by using a battery-electric instead of a PTO pump system.

“These are substantial efficiency gains that scale significantly across a tanker fleet. By avoiding unnecessary engine idling during milk collection, the system not only saves fuel but reduces engine wear and maintenance needs,” says Dr Symons.

After five years of development and refinement, the second-generation system is now being trialled by major milk transport operator Hilton Haulage, with results exceeding expectations.

Simon Hand, General Manager of Dairy and Bulk Liquids for Hilton Haulage says, “It was a no brainer for us to install the Newspec PTO. It reduces cost, its more efficient and gives us a much greener footprint and our drivers don’t need to change the way they work.”

Unlike other electric alternatives, the Motiva by Newspec is fully self-contained. It recharges its battery while the truck is driving via the alternator, no depot-based charging or external infrastructure required.

Hilton Haulage has committed to a broader rollout, with seven units now installed. With an estimated 700 milk tankers operating nationwide, the commercial and environmental upside is significant, especially as operators look to decarbonise and reduce fuel costs.

For farmers, the benefits are indirect but meaningful. Reduced emissions mean a smaller environmental footprint across the supply chain, something increasingly important to regulators, exporters, and consumers alike.

The system’s self-charging design makes it ideal for rural operations, where charging infrastructure is often limited.

Newspec is now exploring applications beyond milk transport, with commercial trials underway in sectors like utilities and container handling, anywhere vehicles currently idle to power hydraulic systems.

“This isn’t just about milk tankers,” Naish says. “Wherever engines are idling to do mechanical work, there’s a better, cleaner way.”

Newspec’s innovation comes at a time when the logistics sector is under increasing pressure to reduce emissions. With its real-world results, scalability, and self-sufficient design, the company’s PTO technology represents a practical pathway toward cleaner heavy transport operations.

“Innovation doesn’t have to be disruptive to workflows,” says Naish. “It just has to make sense. And in this case, the numbers, and the outcomes, speak for themselves.”