Australian conversion specialists Janus Electric have been celebrating a growing slate of orders for their Class 8 electric truck conversions, which ditch diesel in favor of advanced battery-swap electric power – but exactly how they’d deliver all those trucks was still a question. Now, we have an answer: Electrovaya will supply the batteries.
The concept of dropping an electric power unit into a Class 8 semi makes perfect sense, as most of these trucks are built as gliders. That is, rolling body and chassis without an engine and transmission that’s ready to receive power from Cummins, Detroit, International, or Volvo Penta. That’s the role that Janus Electric sees itself occupying, and it seems to be working.
Janus’ reservation book crept past 70 units this past summer, helped along in part by California’s HVIP Program and the US EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Grants. When the HVIP voucher is combined with the Port of Los Angeles’ “Plus” support, customers can received up to $166,000 per truck conversion. Factor in the massive fuel savings of electric and the classic good looks of square-nose Western Star truck body, and it’s easy to see why they’d be a popular choice.
As Jerry Seinfeld taught us however, it’s one thing to take a reservation – it’s another thing to deliver. To help make it happen, Janus has inked a battery supply deal with Electrovaya that will see a $26 million initial purchase orders for Electrovaya battery packs to demand for Janus’ products in the US and Canada, along with the battery company purchasing approximately $1.4 million in Janus stock with (what seems to be) actual money.
“Electrovaya is an important partner to Janus Electric, and we’re particularly pleased it has decided to invest directly in our business,” explains Ben Hutt, Managing Director and CEO of Janus Electric. “The investment is a strong vote of confidence in our technology and approach to electrifying heavy transport.”
Loads of promise
The Janus Electric-repowered trucks carry a stout, 480 hp electric motor drawing power from a standard 310 kWh battery pack, with up to two battery packs (one on each side) of the truck. In practice, that gives the Janus trucks up to 370 miles of loaded range. After that, the batteries can be DC fast charged in under 90 minutes, or swapped for fresh ones in about four minutes without too much in the way of specialized equipment. That’s not just Janus’ killer app, it means that a battery supply deal like this one with a strategic partner who’s invested in the fledgling company’s success is such a huge deal.
“Reliable battery supply is critical to our growth,” adds Hutt, “and Electrovaya’s expanding North American manufacturing capabilities will be important as we scale. Both companies see considerable opportunity in this market, and we look forward to building on our partnership.”
For their part, Electrovoya executives seem to know their role here, and seem excited to be a part of what Janus is doing. “Class 8 trucking is one of the most exciting and demanding frontiers in electrification, and Janus has demonstrated real commercial traction with fleets in the US, Canada and Australia,” said Dr. Raj Das Gupta, CEO of Electrovaya. “Janus has developed a practical solution to one of the major challenges facing heavy transport, enabling diesel-powered trucks to be converted to electric without compromising their commercial operations.”
Electrovaya will be expanding its American manufacturing capacity with lithium-ion cell, module, and battery pack production at its new, potentially BABA-compliant facility in Jamestown, New York, which is expected to come online in 2027.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Janus Electric, via Charged, Yahoo.
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