Qube in Australia is partnering with Janus Electric and OZ Minerals to test a 170t electric prime mover that will haul a triple road train carrying copper concentrate containers 230km from the mine to the port. Janus Electric has converted a Volvo 8×6 diesel road truck into an EV with a 720HP electric drive train and a swappable 620kW battery system. The battery packs can be swapped out in just four minutes using Janus Electric’s “Change & Charge station.”
The electric truck will transport three 20ft containers of copper concentrate from the Carrapateena mine to Whyalla Port in South Australia. A battery change station will be located at Port Augusta, which is 161km from Carrapateena. The truck will be able to load the copper concentrate at Whyalla Port using a container rotator.
All the electric vehicle technology for the truck was developed in Australia, making it the heaviest electric truck in the world according to Janus Electric CEO Lex Forsyth. The company aims to convert existing equipment fleets to electric vehicles at a comparable cost to rebuilding a diesel motor.
Janus Electric offers a “zero-carbon” solution with a battery that can be charged using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. The battery pack has a range of 400 to 600km and an estimated life of up to eight years, with the ability to be fully upgradeable as new technology emerges.
The electric truck will undergo a 12-month trial alongside Qube’s diesel trucks, with Qube Bulk Director Todd Emmert stating that the pilot project is the beginning of their efforts to decarbonize their logistics supply chain.
