Three Australian companies are working on a 12-month trial that will subject the world’s largest electric truck to Australia’s harsh conditions, and test exchangeable battery technology.
The self-funded trial – dubbed Vision Electric – will be led by electric truck maker Janus Electric, mining giant Oz Minerals and infrastructure Qube and will see if they have found part of the answer to zero emissions transport.
“The Janus Electric vision is to use our breakthrough battery technology to create a 100% carbon zero solution for electrifying Australia’s road transport fleet,” said Lex Forsyth, Janus Electric’s general manager.
“Vision Electric will see the world’s largest electric truck put through its paces over a 12-month trial under some of the harshest conditions in the world.”
As part of the trial, a battery recharging and replacement station will be installed in Port Augusta in South Australia, located approximately 300-kilometres from Adelaide, with construction expected to start in May and be completed by August.
The battery recharge and replacement station will be used as a battery change-over pit-stop for the battery electric truck, which the companies expect will take no more time than traditional refuelling.
Janus says its Charge and Change Stations provide a three-way charging system – grid to battery, battery to battery and battery to grid. This enables storage of renewable energy which can be fed back into the grid creating a balanced energy source, which minimises surges and outages.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.