Perth's solar-powered electric freight hub cuts diesel use with 30 zero-emission trucks

A major electric freight project is now running at full capacity in Perth. Centurion’s Off-Grid Battery Electric Vehicle initiative, backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), supports 30 electric trucks with solar and battery power. The system aims to cut diesel use and speed up the shift to cleaner heavy transport. The project features two charging sites equipped with 15 dual-port chargers—both slow and fast. These stations run entirely off-grid, using 4.4 MW of rooftop solar and 10.3 MWh of battery storage. Backup power comes from hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), ensuring reliability without fossil fuels.

Janus Electric, a key partner, has already converted around 30 trucks to electric in Australia. Their process takes just six days and costs AU$175,000 per vehicle—cheaper than buying a new diesel truck. Over 100 more conversions are already under binding orders. The company has also set up nine battery swap stations across the country. These have supported commercial freight operations, with more than 3,500 swaps completed so far. Janus estimates that electrifying Australia’s entire heavy freight fleet could take as little as five years if conversions align with normal engine replacement cycles. To speed up the transition, Janus proposes three policy steps. These include financial incentives for fleet operators, shared public investment in swap infrastructure, and a national plan for electrified freight corridors.

Heavy freight trucks currently use about 30% of Australia’s diesel imports—around 10 billion litres each year. Switching to electric could free up that fuel while cutting emissions. The Perth project demonstrates how solar-powered charging and fast conversions can make this shift possible on a large scale.