Electric logging truck with swappable batteries begins work in South Australia

A converted T609 Kenworth logging truck fitted with an electric powertrain has gotten to work in the Green Triangle region of South Australia, making it the first of its kind in Australia and only the second worldwide.

The Kenworth is operated by South Australian logging company Fennell Forestry, who commissioned the conversion from New South Wales based electric conversion company Janus Electric.

The T609 Kenworth features a 540kW motor from electric conversion specialist Janus Electric. With a predicted range of between 400 to 500 kilometres on a full charge, the truck will now enter a two-year testing period for Fennell Forestry.

Importantly, while a full charge of the Janus Electric battery would take around four hours, the company will use its swap-and-go system which requires only four or five minutes to swap a new battery in.

However, a single charging and swap-and-go station means the truck will need to stay in the region, and Fennell Forestry will seek to determine its effective range loaded with softwood and hardwood.

“I didn’t think this day was going to come, but it has and it’s exceeded my expectation,” said Wendy Fennell, Fennell Forestry managing director, who spoke to ABC News.

“This is what the trial is about: is the range going to be there? Is it going to be durable enough for our application? We’ll be monitoring the data very closely, to weigh up the costs associated with operating it.”

Fennell Forestry believes that this truck is the first step in an important transition for the industry, and will play a significant role in ensuring the heavy transport industry is capable of meeting federal government 2030 emissions reduction targets.

“We’ve done our groundwork and due diligence, calculating battery power, run time and carbon-emission reduction,” said Fennell at a stakeholders event on Tuesday.

“Now it’s time to get the truck loaded and on the road to see if the practical application measures up to the theoretical. We think it will but will be two years before we can say our Australia-first initiative has been a success.

“It’s an educated gamble, but one we feel compelled to take for the benefit of the heavy transport industry and future generations.”