Tesla CEO Elon Musk famously ditched the idea of EV battery swapping back in 2015 after a brief experiment. That pretty much laid the idea to rest here in the US, but other EV stakeholders soldiered on. The latest example is the Australian firm Janus Electric, which is bringing its Class 8 heavy duty electric truck conversions to North America. Janus offers a battery-as-a-service model that includes both charging and swapping…so, is battery swapping finally coming here to the US?.
📌 The Core Development
Battery swapping for two-wheelers and larger EVs is commonplace in some overseas markets, with industry leader Nio being one example. So far, though, swapping stations for e-bikes are the only sign of emerging activity in the US.
Musk’s opinion aside, a modern battery swapping station can change a spent electric car battery for a fresh one in just a few minutes, or less time than it takes to drive through an automated car wash. On the other hand, considering today’s EV fast charging technology, battery swapping is somewhat less relevant to passenger cars and other light duty vehicles. Access to home charging is another factor that can limit the appeal of driving to a battery swapping station for a refresh.
🔍 Background & Sector Context
Electric trucks, though, are another kettle of fish. Every minute counts in the fast paced transportation industry. Waiting in line for an EV charging station to free up is a non-starter, and then there’s the charging time. Even the much-heralded Tesla Semi Class 8 truck can take hours to reach a full charge overnight, though the truck is reported to achieve 60-70% charge in as little as 30-45 minutes at fast charging stations.
The time factor explains why battery swapping for trucks is appearing in overseas markets. The seeds of change have also begun to sprout up in the US, where the the diesel-to-electric conversion field is beginning to offer some opportunities. Last summer, for example, the US startup Revoy (formerly SixWheels) announced a swappable battery retrofit for Class 8 diesel trucks . The retrofit consists of a battery unit inserted between the cab and the trailer, which can be swapped out in a matter of minutes. The unit does not replace the engine, but it reportedly cuts diesel emissions by up to 85%, with a 95% fuel savings aided by regenerative braking.
📊 Industry & Real-World Impact
The US Army is also dipping a toe in the conversion field with “idling kits,” which are batteries powerful enough to run on-board equipment for military vehicles in near silence, without the giveaway noise and heat signature involved in idling the vehicle’s engine . No word yet on whether or not swap-outs will be part of the picture, but the technology pieces are in place.
Benchmark Telemetry & EV Fuel Savings
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🔮 Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
So much for the current state of affairs. Last week a full diesel-to-electric conversion opportunity suddenly appeared when the Canadian lithium-ion battery specialist Electrovaya announced a new $26 million diesel-to-electric supply agreement with the Janus that leverages Electrovaya’s proprietary “Infinity Battery Technology , a durable system compatible with daily swapping cycles for Class 8 trucks.
The $26 million agreement represents just the initial phase of orders for the US and Canadian markets. “Electrovaya has also agreed to invest approximately $1.4 million in Janus for up to 4.2 million shares, together with up to 6.3 million warrants,” Electrovaya noted, indicating a long term partnership allowing plenty of room for scaleup.
