More electric trucks will be rolling out onto Sydney streets within weeks, following the completion of Janus Electric’s first solar-powered Charge and Change Station.
Located at the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct, the facility gives electric trucks, produced by Janus Electric on the Central Coast, the ability to swap the 2m by 1.2m batteries for fully charged batteries, and head off on their run.
The quick swap takes just four minutes. A truck with a single trailer can generally travel between 300 to 400km on a single battery, with battery swapping stations strategically located, to keep trucks on the move.
It’s the first facility of its kind to be built at an intermodal terminal where freight is swapped between roads and rail. There are eight other Charge and Change stations across Australia, with more on the way.
Janus Electric’s battery-swapping technology allows for the batteries to be powered by rooftop solar energy, minimising wait times for drivers and ready to be picked up by the next electric truck to visit the Charge and Change Station.
“Launching this solar-powered Charge and Change Station is a crucial step towards a cleaner, greener future for Australia’s transport sector,” says Janus Electric CEO Lex Forsyth.
“Janus Electric is at the forefront of electric vehicle innovation in Australia, offering cutting-edge solutions to help reduce carbon emissions in the heavy transport industry. Our Charge and Change Stations enable quick battery swaps for electric trucks, providing a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional refuelling methods.”
Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy
The investment in the new facility follows the NSW government’s introduction of the Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy which outlines government and industry actions that will reduce the carbon footprint of heavy vehicles and rail freight.
A key step in delivering the policy, extra-mass provisions for access to state roads, means electric trucks – like trucks from Janus Electric – can be used across the state without sacrificing cargo quantities.
“Freight demand is projected to rise by 34% across NSW from 2021 to 2061. We’re going to need more capacity, not less, which is why we’re working on a plan with the freight industry to get us to net zero,” says NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen.
“Many freight operators are natural innovators and are already investing in low emission technologies.
“The NSW government’s Zero Emissions Freight Policy means that the government is supporting industry and helping them invest in new and exciting technologies across the state and at key freight centres like Moorebank.”