Janus Electric Has Converted Diesel Trucks to Electric
The company uses swappable battery packs to replace diesel engines during standard fleet maintenance intervals.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Janus Electric has launched a retrofit program that replaces diesel prime mover engines with electric drivetrains. The system employs modular, removable battery packs to eliminate long charging wait times and heavy payload penalties.
Why it matters
The conversion model allows operators to modernize fleets without purchasing new vehicles, as maintenance intervals typically require engine replacements every five years. Electric operation costs are approximately half of diesel costs per kilometer.
Converting one diesel truck to an electric drivetrain costs approximately $150,000. While prime movers typically have a 20-year lifespan, the conversion replaces internal combustion engines during standard maintenance performed every five years.
The players
Janus Electric
This company specializes in converting diesel-powered heavy vehicles into electric prime movers using modular battery-swapping technology.
The details
Janus Electric is currently expanding its conversion kits to 10 or 11 countries, building on its primary operations in Australia where it is developing 50 battery-swap stations. The model specifically targets heavy freight, which in Australia often requires short daily travel distances, making swappable batteries more efficient than large integrated ones.
Timeline
Every 5 years is the standard maintenance interval for diesel prime mover engines when the electric drivetrain is installed.
20 years is the typical operational lifespan of a prime mover that Janus Electric targets for retrofitting.
Roadmap
The transition to electric heavy transport is moving away from purely new vehicle manufacturing toward the retrofitting of existing diesel prime movers. This trend positions firms like Janus Electric to extend the usable life of current fleets while bypassing the high capital cost of entirely new heavy-duty electric vehicle purchases.
Fleet operators can expect significantly lower operating costs, which are roughly half the price of diesel per kilometer. These conversions allow businesses to maintain existing assets while avoiding the downtime associated with traditional long-duration charging stations.
The takeaway
By converting existing diesel engines rather than manufacturing new trucks, companies can achieve rapid fleet electrification at a lower cost. This approach demonstrates that heavy logistics can become more sustainable through modular battery swaps rather than relying on massive, heavy integrated battery packs.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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