James Graham
Nov 21, 2023
Funding bid recharges hopes of building electric highway for trucks
A pitch for federal funding and advances in technology have renewed Janus Electric’s hopes of starting to build Australia’s first battery electric truck highway from as early as next year.
Earlier this month, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) allocated $100 million to support demonstration and deployment of heavy vehicles, charging solutions and other innovation supporting uptake of BEVs.
With the help of rapidly advancing battery cell technology that now makes it possible to carry bigger loads over longer distances, Janus Electric CEO Lex Forsyth believes the company is in a strong position to make its case for a grant of between $35-$40 million from the Driving the Nation program.
“Our focus is on how to build something that is multi-user for multiple fleets, rather than just being orientated for one fleet, or one particular project,” Forsyth said.
“How do we get it so we start to build a network that opens it up to all fleets, from the owner-operator to medium and large fleets as well and I think ARENA is starting to see that – you can have a multi-user grant package.
“If we are going to see the industry actively look at electrification and decarbonisation, it’s got to be multi-user; it’s got to be built in key locations that are suitable for transport operators and for trucking operators to be able to use the infrastructure.
“That’s the project we’re focusing on putting together now for this next round of funding that incorporates all of that.”
Janus Electric CEO Lex Forsyth at the Brisbane Truck Show. Image: Prime Creative Media
Forsyth said Janus, which converts existing diesel trucks to battery electric versions, and builds charge and change stations, has some “pretty impressive” statistics to back that up.
They include 275,000km of total fleet hours, 550 megawatt hours through the network and just over 2000 battery swaps.
“It’s not a concept anymore, it’s a solution for the operators and we’re seeing that with ever-growing orders and new charge stations going out as well.
“The fleet operators can see it actually works for them to get the utilisation out of their asset; they’re not parking the asset to charge.”
Forsyth said now that ARENA appears to be less focused on hydrogen, he believes Janus has a great chance to electrify the eastern seaboard from Brisbane through to Melbourne. His confidence is also boosted with the imminent arrival of improved battery cell technology from China in the new year.
Forsyth said that new technology would make it possible for a loaded B-double to get between 600-700km with a network of charge stations in all the key freight hubs.
“All of a sudden, with the new technology, Tarcutta becomes in range, Coffs Harbour or Clybucca for changeovers.
“You’ve got the trucks doing the job and that’s the key difference. It takes all the arguments around range anxiety off the table.”
Forsyth said the aim for Janus is to now get to “cost parity” with diesel in some truck applications as soon as possible, and cost savings in others.
“If we can get assistance with getting the electrical infrastructure that’s required to make this work, it helps to be able to scale it into the future for the operators as well too – and the benefits will flow on directly to the industry.”
Although welcoming of ARENA’s recent funding of Toll and Linfox truck electrification projects to the tune of $28.6 million, Forsyth would also like to see more government support for smaller to medium-sized transport operators as well.
“I think they’re the ones who really need assistance,” he said.
“It requires everyone in the industry to make the transition to make this work, not just the majors.”
Forsyth said the $175,000 cost to convert diesel trucks to a Janus electric powertrain remains relatively affordable in comparison to a diesel engine rebuild.
Operators also recoup, on average, a further $25,000 for the gear pulled out of the truck during the conversion.
“You’re getting brand new transmission, new motor, power-steering pump, water pump, air compressor, air conditioning units and a new radiator package as well.
“When you think about an engine rebuild, or a crate motor swap, and if you were to do a transmission swap as well too, you’re not getting much change out of about $120,000 by the time you do that with a truck these days.”
Linfox is using its $19.6 million ARENA grant to help roll out 26 battery-electric trucks across Queensland, South Australia and Victoria and to build supporting charging infrastructure at distribution centre sites.
Toll will deploy 28 Volvo battery-electric trucks and build supporting charging infrastructure at 10 sites across Australia with the assistance of its $9 million grant.