New Zealand’s first Windrose E1400 electric long haul truck has been getting to see a lot of the country. 

The China-built truck has been on show duty in the early weeks of the year, appearing at the Bombay Truck Show and Kamo Touch a Truck events before heading south to go on display at the TMC Trucking Industry Show in Christchurch on March 7-8.

The truck landed in New Zealand at the end of last year and Auckland-based distributor Etrucks says the first series production models are due in February 2026.

“The interest is very high,” says Etrucks director Ross Linton.

“More than any other electric truck, it hits the trifecta of duration, weight and price.”

Linton recently travelled to China to confirm build slots and the final spec details for New Zealand’s first E1400s.

The E1400 is named as a reference to its peak 1400hp power output. It has a 729kWh CABL lithium iron phosphate battery pack and will be able to work in either B-Train or quad semi configuration at up to 58t GCM on HPMV permits. Overseas testing at 49t has achieved an estimated driving range of 670km.

Intermediate charging plays an important role in the long haul capability of the E1400. It’s estimated a 35-minute fast charge session provides up to 400km of operation. 

There’s also a variant with a 352kWh battery, lower tare weight and a range estimated at 300km.

The actual E1400 on trial in New Zealand can claim to be a widely-travelled truck. It completed an Auckland-Wellington loop soon after landing here, but the same truck has been used for evaluation and demo work in both the USA and Australia.

 “That truck has been across the `States and down the East Coast of Australia. It’s done a bit,” Ross says.

At its local truck show appearances the Windrose was attracting plenty of interest with a steady stream of visitors checking out its sliding doors, central driving position, and the hi-tech cabin and display layout.