Janus Electric Holdings Ltd (ASX:JNS) earlier this week, secured a pilot agreement to supply battery-swapping electric trucks to Ability Trimodal Transportation Services in Southern California. Co-founder Lex Forsyth said the pilot would serve as a catalyst for broader market traction. “As soon as these first two [trucks] are operational, we’ll look to do more right away,” he said, referencing discussions with Ability Trimodal.
Highlights
- Janus Electric secured a $1.25 million pilot deal with Ability Trimodal in Southern California.
- The deal includes two battery-swapping Class 8 prime movers and a solar-powered Janus Charge and Change Station.
- This will be the first known battery-swapping trucks in North America.
- Battery swaps take just four minutes, avoiding the need for costly tethered charging infrastructure.
- California's grid challenges and real estate constraints make this model attractive.
- The Port of Long Beach corridor has 26,000 trucks—a key target for deployment.
- Janus' drivetrain is CARB certified, unlocking state funding for fleet conversions.
- California government support includes up to $90,000 rebates per vehicle for eligible fleets.
- Janus has partnered with a local dealership (ABC Electric Vehicles) to support deployment and sales.
- The pilot is expected to act as a proof-of-concept to accelerate broader adoption.
US$1.25 million deal
Janus' US$1.25 million deal includes two Class 8 prime movers and a Janus Charge and Change Station. The trucks will be deployed in the Port of Long Beach, a logistics hub with around 26,000 drayage trucks operating in the region.
The company told investors that the pilot will demonstrate the viability of battery-swapping as an alternative to tethered charging. The company said the system allows batteries to be swapped in under four minutes, significantly reducing the need for large charging infrastructure and real estate.
It highlighted that the Californian grid faces reliability issues, and rooftop solar integration makes the system more resilient. It also said the project is well aligned with local emissions regulations, which now restrict access to ports for non-zero-emission trucks.
CARB certification
The company said it has secured CARB certification for its clean energy drivetrain, which opens access to funding through state programs. It noted that eligible fleets may receive up to US$90,000 in rebates per vehicle.
Janus has appointed ABC Electric Vehicles as its dealer in California. The company said the local partner is already conducting conversions and fielding interest from fleets in the region.