Electric vehicles

• How Australia’s first electric log truck is expected to look, complete with battery pack below the cab. Picture: Fennell Forestry.

Fennell Forestry flicks the switch to electric trucks

FENNELL Forestry says it is taking the crucial first step towards decarbonising Australia’s heavy vehicle transport industry.

The Mount Gambier-based harvest and haulage company has commissioned the world’s second-ever electric log truck, in the hope of providing a realistic carbonzero solution for the industry.

Transport is Australia’s second highest contributor to carbon emissions. A single diesel-powered log truck produces in excess of 500 tonnes of carbon every year. Converting to an electric engine and battery system will slash this number to zero. And when recharging using renewable energy, the environmental dividends will be even greater.

Fennell Forestry Managing Director Wendy Fennell said the truck – the first of its kind in the country – was the cornerstone of a research and findings trial in the lead-up to Federal Government’s 2030 emissions reduction targets.

“We’re taking the pivotal first steps in trialling this carbon reducing technology on behalf of the Australian heavy vehicle transport industry,” she said.

“Decarbonising our industry won’t happen overnight. We need to start trialling this technology now so we have time to consider the best options for each application.

“From here, we can properly asses what is a realistic solution and provide some answers to help the industry meet emission targets.”

Ms Fennell said work was currently underway to convert the once diesel-powered prime mover to a fully electric battery operating system, using Australian technology, innovation and workmanship.

It expected to be operational in October 2022.

“The truck is currently with Janus Electric, an Australian company that understands our heavy vehicle transport requirements and gross combination mass (GCM) that is higher than our American and European counterparts,” she said.

Janus Electric General Manager Lex Forsyth said the team developed a modular conversion system that allows it to convert most major engines, trucks and OEM products.

“There are currently about 105,000 registered Class 8 trucks in Australia,” he said.

“Our solution is a perfect fit for about 80% of the market here in Australia.”

Mr. Forsyth said the significant capital investment required to purchase a new truck versus converting an existing vehicle was a key factor in the design of the Janus units.

“We used the conversion model because the truth is we only produce 5,000 new trucks a year for our market,” he said.

“If we were to try to change the way we consume energy and go for a greener transportation and logistics mission, it would take 20 years if we started producing new trucks today.

“The important thing for fleet operators is that after five years, the trucks are due to be rebuilt anyway.

Instead of rebuilding the diesel engine, [they can put] in a new electric motor and away from diesel and maintenance costs of running a diesel vehicle.

Unlike electric vehicles that plug into a charging station, Janus’ electrical system replaces a truck’s batteries like a racing car that replaces its tyres while it’s idling.

“We have created interchangeable battery technology to mitigate the problem of vehicles parking for freight and the loss of advantage for fleet operators,” Forsyth said.

“There are two batteries on the truck … they go to where the fuel tanks were on the car, and they are replaced.

“We are currently doing this with a 3-ton forklift and swapping the two batteries takes about four minutes.”

But going forward, Forsyth envisions a more automated approach.

“As we get to a larger scale, the trucks will pass through an automated charging changing station where you will simply drive the truck below the charging station and the batteries are stacked on top of it,” he said.

● Janus Electric general manager Lex Forsyth.