Janus Electric Holdings Ltd (ASX:JNS) has struck a strategic partnership with a Canadian consortium to integrate its swappable battery electric truck technology into a series of circular energy and logistics projects in North America, the latest step in the company’s push towards commercial-scale deployment.
The agreement will see Janus supply conversion kits for heavy-duty trucks that will operate within what the company describes as “closed-loop logistics hubs” — captive freight operations powered by on-site, low-emissions energy generation rather than grid electricity or diesel.
While the Toronto-based counterparty has not been named, Janus said the consortium comprises established Canadian operators across transport logistics, alternative energy infrastructure and asset finance, and that the commercial validation and binding nature of the agreement were the material elements for investors.
Closed-loop logistics model
Under the arrangement, Janus will export conversion kits — including motors, drivetrains, charge stations and battery mounts — from its New South Wales facility to Ontario, where trucks will be converted locally by a dealer. Batteries will be manufactured in Canada by Electrovaya (TSX: ELVA), Janus’s battery supply partner.
The converted electric fleet will be powered by an integrated waste-to-energy system using advanced pyrolysis technology, combined with carbon-capture infrastructure designed to recover and sequester CO₂ emissions at the point of combustion.
Janus said the energy generation, fuel processing and carbon-capture assets will be owned and operated by its commercial partner, with the intention of supplying low-cost, low-emissions energy directly to the truck fleet and reducing reliance on both grid electricity and diesel fuel.
Addressing long-haul electrification
The company said the partnership tackles one of the key barriers to heavy vehicle electrification — range and charging downtime — by pairing on-site energy generation with Janus’s modular battery-swapping system.
Rather than relying on conventional DC fast charging, trucks can be refuelled in minutes by swapping battery packs charged from the dedicated energy hub, allowing diesel-equivalent duty cycles without extended downtime.
Chief executive Ben Hutt said the model moves beyond simple electrification towards a fully integrated system.
“By aligning our swappable battery technology with proprietary pyrolysis and carbon-capture capabilities, we are moving beyond simple electrification,” he said. “We are offering a captive ecosystem where the fuel source is designed to be both economically negative cost and environmentally regenerative. This ensures our clients can match the range and reliability of diesel trucks while significantly reducing total cost of ownership.”
Funding and rollout conditions
The agreement includes safeguards around credit risk, with Janus not required to allocate capital or commence manufacturing until it receives a 50% production deposit. That deposit is contingent on the counterparty securing binding commitments from asset lenders and confirming eligibility for relevant Canadian government incentive programs.
These may include federal and provincial investment tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and other clean-energy support mechanisms, though final terms and financing structures remain subject to confirmation.
Janus said the initial rollout will focus on captive logistics loops with predictable routes and reliable waste feedstocks, enabling “behind-the-meter” charging hubs independent of grid constraints.
Indicative deployment volumes outlined by the company suggest a staged increase through 2026 and 2027, though Janus stressed these are not firm purchase orders and provided no earnings or revenue guidance at this stage.
The announcement follows Janus’s recent appointment of Hutt as CEO, as the company looks to accelerate commercialisation of its heavy vehicle electrification platform both domestically and offshore.
Read more: Janus Electric appoints seasoned CEO Ben Hutt to lead the next phase of commercialisation