‘World’s first’ electric truck trial across Australian outback begins

Three Australian companies have teamed up to trial battery-electric trucks for heavy haulage across the outback.

Janus Electric, Qube and OZ Minerals are working together to tackle challenge of emissions footprint reduction in the heavy transport and resources industries. This self-funded trial, named Vision Electric, is at an early stage and will be phased over 12 months, beginning in the latter part of 2022.

As part of this trial, a battery recharging and replacement station will be set up in South Australia at Port Augusta, approximately 300 kilometres from Adelaide. Construction of this station is estimated to start in May 2022 and be completed by early August 2022.

Once ready, the station will be used as a battery change over pit stop for the battery electric truck. It is expected that the battery changeover can be completed in the same time it takes for traditional refuelling.

On co-signing the Letter of Intent, Janus Electric General Manager, Lex Forsyth, said Janus Electric was looking forward to putting its revolutionary heavy vehicle exchangeable batteries through their paces.

He said: “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.

“Part of our mission is to work with companies that take a similar approach to innovation and renewable energy and our partnership with Qube and OZ Minerals to deliver Vision Electric signals our joint commitment to invest time and capital into delivering a carbon neutral transport network.

“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.”

Qube’s Director Bulk, Todd Emmert, said Qube is constantly evolving and that building a strategy that ensures a resilient and robust approach to sustainability is key for Qube’s longterm success.

“Vision Electric is a collaboration of technology and service for a challenging environment with currently limited alternate fuel solutions. The vision is to elevate current technology to meet the demand of a dynamic remote export supply chain and advance our respective pathway to decarbonisation. Vision Electric is an exciting element to the next chapter of our pathway with OZ Minerals.”

OZ Minerals’ CEO & MD, Andrew Cole, said Vision Electric is an example of how the company is working with proponents from within and outside the mining industry to find better ways of doing things.

He said: “OZ Minerals has aspirations to emit zero Scope 1 emissions and strive to systematically reduce Scope 2 & 3 emissions across our value chain; to work closely with our stakeholders to create mutual value by building each other’s capability and capacity; and to deliver the activities along our value chain to enable our local stakeholder aspirations for generations to come.

“This battery electric trial is one of the ways we are progressing towards these aspirations, and part of how we are bringing our Decarbonisation Roadmap to life.”