Lower Conversion Costs Avoid the Burden of Purchasing New Vehicles
Australian electric vehicle conversion company Janus Electric has recently launched a diesel-to-electric conversion service for trucks approximately five years old, replacing traditional powertrains with electric motors. Janus Electric CEO Ben Hutt stated that the conversion cost is only about a quarter of purchasing a new electric truck, offering fleet operators a more economical path to electrification.
Janus Electric’s conversion solution employs a battery swap model, with each swap taking approximately four minutes, significantly reducing charging time. The converted electric trucks are lighter than their original diesel counterparts, avoiding the need for regulatory exemptions due to excessive battery weight. Additionally, the converted vehicles can utilize the Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, where Janus Electric monitors battery health and sells retired batteries to the second-use market, extending vehicle lifespan.
Battery Swap Technology Lowers Infrastructure Barriers
Janus Electric’s battery swap stations use low-power charging at 240V and 300A, eliminating the need for grid upgrades and reducing infrastructure deployment costs. Currently, swaps are performed manually using forklifts, but the company is developing automated swap stations to further improve efficiency.
In terms of battery selection, Janus Electric collaborates with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL to use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cost-effective, long-lasting, and safe. CATL plans to replace LFP with sodium-ion batteries in the future, though Janus Electric has not yet announced specific plans. Janus Electric emphasizes that its battery swap technology supports various battery chemistries, enhancing flexibility.
Short-Distance Transport as Primary Focus to Avoid Long-Haul Infrastructure Gaps
Ben Hutt noted that approximately 80% of heavy truck usage involves short-distance transport, with vehicles returning to base daily, eliminating the need for long-range capabilities. Janus Electric’s battery swap solution only requires a range of 250 miles (about 400 kilometers) per trip, rather than equipping trucks with large-capacity batteries capable of 500 miles (about 800 kilometers), further reducing costs and vehicle weight.
Janus Electric currently has 30 converted trucks in operation and plans to increase monthly production to 50 conversion kits by 2026. Hutt emphasized that the company is not prioritizing long-haul routes, such as the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne, but instead focuses on short-distance transport to avoid waiting for nationwide charging infrastructure to be fully developed. Cement Australia has become one of Janus Electric’s partners, demonstrating the technology’s application in real-world operations.
Janus Electric also stated that battery swap trucks can utilize fast-charging infrastructure, reducing the need for swap station interoperability during the early stages of infrastructure deployment. As diesel costs continue to fluctuate, the diesel-to-electric conversion solution offers fleet operators a low-cost, rapidly deployable option for electrification, potentially accelerating the transition of commercial vehicles to electric power.
