Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 1 day ago
Janus Electric scales up conversions of diesel trucks to electric
Janus Electric, based on the Central Coast of Australia, converts diesel trucks to run on electric drivetrains and batteries.
The company was founded by Lex Forsyth, whose family has been in trucking for 110 years.
Its first electric log truck was commissioned in 2023, and 28 converted trucks have since been used for freight work including mining, forestry and food delivery.
Janus says converting a truck costs about as much as rebuilding its diesel engine, while buying a new diesel truck can cost much more.
The company says an upgrade takes four to six days, and batteries can be provided as a service.
After learning from its pilot trucks, Janus says it has standardised its product range and supply chain and is now scaling up, with dealer partners in Australia, the United States and Canada.
Janus Electric says it is scaling up its conversions of diesel trucks to electric after standardising its products and supply chain.
The Central Coast company replaces diesel engines with electric drivetrains and battery systems.
CEO Ben Hutt said 28 converted trucks were operating in Australia across freight tasks including mining, forestry and food delivery.
Janus says an upgrade takes four to six days and costs about as much as rebuilding a diesel engine.
The company says its conversions can help operators avoid the cost of buying a new diesel or electric truck.
- Who
- Janus Electric, led by CEO Ben Hutt, converts diesel trucks to electric.
- What
- The company replaces diesel engines with electric drivetrains and battery systems, and says it is now scaling up.
- When
- Janus says it began commercial conversions three years before the article was published.
- Where
- The company is based on the Central Coast of Australia. Its trucks operate in different parts of the country, and it has dealer partners in South Australia, Western Australia, California and Canada.
- Why
- Janus says electric trucks can be cheaper to operate for many freight tasks and are better for the environment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We’re now in the scaling-up phase.
It’s much cheaper to do most types of freight tasks.
We can do the upgrade in four to six days
Lex Forsyth founded Janus Electric.
Fennell Forestry commissioned Australia’s first electric log truck, built by Janus Electric.
Janus began commercially converting diesel trucks to electric.
Ben Hutt became CEO and reviewed lessons from the company’s pilot trucks.
Janus had standardised a family of products and a supply chain and said it was scaling up.
- Converted trucks
- 28 Janus trucks operating in different parts of Australia
- Conversion time
- Four to six days
- Conversion cost
- About the same as rebuilding a diesel engine
- Battery charging
- Two to three hours with a charger
- Dealer locations
- South Australia, Western Australia, California and Canada
Sources
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