Janus Electric Reports Full Order Book for Diesel-to-Electric Truck Conversion Kits
Ability Tri-Modal has ordered 16 additional conversion kits plus 18 swappable battery sets, with deliveries slated to begin in Q2 2027.
Janus Electric, an Australian provider of electrification solutions for heavy-duty vehicles, has announced a full order book for its diesel-to-electric truck conversion kits, anchored by strong demand from US fleet operators taking advantage of technology-neutral incentives.
What Happened
Janus Electric disclosed several new customer orders across the United States, Canada and Australia. The company's first US fleet customer, Ability Tri-Modal, placed an A$10-million order for 16 additional diesel-to-electric conversion kits and 18 swappable battery sets, bringing its total commitment to 20 vehicle conversions. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q2 2027 using Janus Charge & Change Station infrastructure. For Ability's first four conversion kits, Janus and its California dealer partner Electric Vehicle Choice secured California HVIP vouchers worth US$112,000 per truck and Port of Los Angeles Plus support valued at US$54,000 per truck. Those incentives are technology-neutral, meaning they apply to conversions as well as new EV purchases. Janus is also working with the Harbor Trucking Association, whose members collectively operate more than 33,500 trucks serving the US port drayage market, and has pending orders from customers in Canada and Australia.
Why It Matters
The order activity underscores a practical alternative for fleet operators seeking to decarbonize: converting existing diesel trucks rather than purchasing new electric vehicles. Janus argues this approach can be more cost-effective, and California's technology-neutral incentive framework makes that math more favorable by extending the same vouchers available for new EVs to conversion kits. For fleet operators managing high-mileage heavy-duty assets, battery-swap capability — a core feature of Janus's offering — could reduce downtime compared to charging-based solutions.
The Bottom Line
Janus Electric is increasing production capacity and working with key suppliers, including battery partner Electrovaya, to fulfill its North American commitments. CEO Ben Hutt described the United States as developing into a substantial order book for the company, though scaling manufacturing and delivery remains an open challenge as backlog grows.
