Western Australia’s first ever electric road train is in operation and is the result of a collaboration between logistics giant Qube and Janus Electric.
“We are thrilled to announce the operation of Western Australia’s very first electric road train, marking a significant milestone in sustainable transportation,” the company wrote on social media.
“This innovative Qube battery electric road train not only stands as a testament to technological advancement, but also showcases the incredible potential of eco-friendly logistics.
“The quiet operation of this electric road train is a game-changer, reducing noise pollution and environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency with zero emissions.
“It’s an honour to collaborate with great customers like Qube, who share our vision for a sustainable future.”
The video Janus Electric has posted on social media describes the Volvo electric truck as 115-tonne and says the vehicle is transporting lithium from a mine in Bunbury into the Port of Bunbury.
Although the specifications of the truck remain unclear, it has also been described as “the heaviest road going electric truck in the world”.
The advent of the WA truck is not the first partnership between Janus Electric and Qube, with the pair also collaborating with mining giant OZ Minerals to trial the world’s first electric triple road train, a converted Volvo FH16 8×6 prime mover, in South Australia in 2023.
Although Australia’s vast size has made implementing battery electric heavy vehicle technology difficult – especially regional and remote locations through the centre of the country, Forsyth’s announcement has come soon after it was revealed Fortescue had received ARENA funding to continue developing its charging network across Western Australia.
The $35.3 million of funding from ARENA has gone towards the mining giant’s ‘Fast Charger for Battery Electric Heavy Vehicles’ project, which will develop six MW fast chargers capable of charging a 240-tonne battery electric truck in under 30 minutes.
The single largest equipment deal in Liebherr history was signed with Fortescue back in September, with the US$2.8 billion including 475 zero-emission Liebherr machines and the deployment of a complete autonomous battery-electric haulage solution for large-scale mining operations.
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