Janus Electric, the Australian specialist in Class 8 electric truck conversions, has secured a major battery supply agreement with Electrovaya. This partnership aims to support Janus Electric’s growing order book for its battery-swap semi trucks in North America.
Janus Electric’s Battery-Swap Truck Solution
Janus Electric focuses on converting Class 8 semi trucks from diesel to electric power using a battery-swap system. Their trucks are equipped with a 480 hp electric motor and a standard 310 kWh battery pack, with the option to fit two packs per vehicle. This setup provides up to 370 miles (~595 km) of loaded range.
The battery packs can be DC fast charged in under 90 minutes or swapped for fresh ones in about four minutes, allowing for minimal downtime and increased operational efficiency.
Electrovaya Partnership and Investment
To meet rising demand, Janus Electric has signed a battery supply deal with Electrovaya, which includes $26 million in initial purchase orders for battery packs. Electrovaya will also invest approximately $1.4 million in Janus Electric stock.
Ben Hutt, Managing Director and CEO of Janus Electric, stated, “Reliable battery supply is critical to our growth,” and emphasized that “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.”
Support from Incentive Programs
Janus Electric’s reservation book surpassed 70 units in the summer of 2023, supported by programs such as California’s HVIP and the US EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Grants. With additional support from the Port of Los Angeles’ ‘Plus’ program, customers can receive up to $166,000 (~AUD 236,989) per truck conversion in vouchers.
Electrovaya’s Manufacturing Expansion
Electrovaya is expanding its American manufacturing capacity with a new facility in Jamestown, New York, expected to begin operations in 2027. This facility will produce lithium-ion cells, modules, and battery packs to support Janus Electric’s needs.
Dr. Raj Das Gupta, CEO of Electrovaya, commented, “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.” He added, “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.”
Why this matters
The agreement between Janus Electric and Electrovaya addresses a key challenge in scaling electric heavy-duty transport: reliable battery supply. With growing policy support and investment, this partnership could accelerate the adoption of battery-swap electric trucks in North America.
The ability to quickly swap batteries and maintain operational uptime is a significant advancement for fleets looking to transition from diesel to electric power without sacrificing productivity.
What this means for buyers
Fleet operators considering electrification now have a clearer path to adopting battery-swap trucks, with supply chain confidence and substantial financial incentives available. Buyers should monitor the rollout of Electrovaya’s new manufacturing facility and the continued expansion of Janus Electric’s conversion program to assess availability and support in their region.
Key Specs
- Electric Motor Output: 480 hp
- Battery Pack Capacity: 310 kWh (up to two packs per truck)
- Loaded Range: 370 miles (~595 km)
- Battery Swap Time: About 4 minutes
- DC Fast Charge Time: Under 90 minutes
- Initial Battery Purchase Order: $26M (~AUD 37.1M)
- Electrovaya Investment in Janus Electric: $1.4M (~AUD 2M)
- Customer Incentive (per truck conversion): $166,000 (~AUD 236,989)
Images sourced from: electrek.co, evinfrastructurenews.com
