to 8 hours usage time depending on truck batteries

Janus Electric gets go ahead to start commercial trials

BY JAMES GRAHAM

FOR a few anxious days late last month, Janus Electric hit a serious roadblock in the next phase of its trailblazing push to establish zero emission prime movers on Australia’s roads.

Just when the NSW-based start-up had been ready to roll out trucks into commercial trials, it discovered an oversight in the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), which effectively stopped the operation in its tracks.

Under the code, zero emission trucks with a steer axle weight of over 6 tonnes (as most large diesel-powered trucks are) did not comply because it specifically required a Euro 4 or above IC engine, leaving companies such as Janus Electric unable to put its ever-expanding range of converted Class 8 prime movers into commercial operation.

Several of the trucks Janus had converted from diesel to fully electric heavy-haulers had been due to hit the road this month, including a Western Star for Holcim which was to be powered by the company’s first charge-and-change battery

Janus Electric trucks have been given the all clear to start commercial operation.

station near the Port of Brisbane.

The situation was so fraught that Janus Electric co-founder and general manager Lex Forsyth told us in a story first published on bigrigs.com.au on September 29 that the company would have to rethink its immediate future in Australia and relocate its operation overseas.

Then, out of the blue, with no consultation, or explanation, Forsyth received an email the next afternoon to say that the modification plates were ready to pick up for the Western Star. “I think the story [at bigrigs. com.au] has helped, but I think there needs to be greater input from NHVR and engagement across the whole sector with people who are actually doing it, not people who have not got any vehicles on the road in Australia,” said Forsyth. “We’ve got to make some decisions on how we’re going to move forward on this because if we don’t get it right, it could set us back five years behind the rest of the world. “Or we get on the front foot, and we lead the world, and that’s a choice we get to make. We need government to be involved proactively to help move this forward.” Forsyth says the latest development allows Janus Electric to get the trucks on the road, but the prime movers are still at a 1.5 tonne payload disadvantage in comparison to an equivalent diesel truck.

“They’ll be at a productivity disadvantage from a tare weight point of view in comparison to the diesel, but at least it lets us get started and get these vehicles out in operation and start to socialise it and get acceptance across the industry, rather than just waiting.”

Aside from the Western Star in Brisbane, Janus Electric also has a Freightliner ready to go into operation carting milk from Sydney to Wyong, up and down the Pacific Highway, and then a Mack towing a fridge van in Melbourne.

Then there are customer trucks for Cement Australia, Fennell Forestry, Qube Logistics and NewCold.

“It’s great that we’re on the road, now let’s talk about how do we make it comparative to a diesel, and help cater for some of this extra tare weight that we’ve got to carry as a battery-electric, even the hydrogen fuel cell have got the same issue.

“They’re going to have to look at a dispensation for tare weight, or an increase on axle mass.

“We need to set the framework and go forward. Euro 6 is coming and a lot of the OEMs are saying they can’t comply on steer axle mass under the current legislation.”

In an emailed statement, The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts told Big Rigs that it understands the axle mass limits, as currently written, are a concern for heavy vehicle industry as they can impede their uptake of heavier low and zero-emissions trucks in the Australian market.

“The department is working with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and industry to consider options to ensure operators can purchase and safely utilise more low and zero-emissions trucks,” said a department spokesperson.

“The Australian Government is committed to supporting the affordability, supply and uptake of lower and zero-emissions vehicles in Australia, including heavy vehicles, while ensuring these vehicles meet the safety standards needed to keep people safe on our roads.”

PBS approval no longer required for some combos

A NEW notice will allow certain truck and dog combinations to operate on approved networks without having to go through the Performance Based Standards (PBS) approval process.

The National Class 3 20m Long 3-axle Truck and 4-axle Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1) will effectively take these combinations out of the PBS scheme and into the ‘normal’ regulatory framework.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) CEO Sal Petroccitto says this will help get safer and more productive vehicles on the road.

“With over 15 years knowledge and experience of hundreds of 3-axle truck and 4-axle dog combination designs, we are confident we can remove the need for them to go through the PBS assessment process,” he said.

The NHVR says that by taking these common and well-understood truck and dog trailer combinations out of the scheme, it can reduce the regulatory and cost burden for industry, as well as allow PBS to focus on new vehicle innovation.

Petroccitto said operators can still choose to operate these truck and dog combinations under the existing arrangements if preferred, or they can opt to use the new notice arrangements.

“The change does not affect the current access available to PBS operators of 3-axle truck and 4-axle dog combinations,” he said.

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia chief executive Todd Hacking congratulated the NHVR for working with industry on this important initiative, adding that the reform reflects the maturation of the PBS scheme.

“This is an excellent example of the PBS scheme’s ability to enable the introduction of innovative new combinations,” he said.

“This move allows the scheme to get back to focusing on the next iteration of innovative vehicles, further enhancing productivity and safety.”

Eligible vehicles under National Class 3 20m Long 3-axle Truck and 4-axle Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1) will operate on Level 1 (up to mass 50.5t) and Level 2 (up to mass 57.5t) networks.

A list of non-participating councils can be found under the network and mapping tool at nhvr.gov. au/C2022G00939.

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