Heavy-duty electric trucks in Sweden and Denmark: The EV revolution continues
The EV revolution is moving forward and is not waiting for laggards. Yesterday we presented a report from Fraunhofer ISI that explains why those waiting for hydrogen to become a fuel for cars and trucks must be disappointed. While that report acknowledged that there could be some justification for hydrogen in heavy-duty trucks that travel long distances or carry particularly heavy loads, today it’s news that battery-electric trucks are starting to infiltrate these parts of the transportation spectrum as well.
Scania heavy electric truck in Sweden
Scania is a manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks. It is part of Traton, which in turn belongs to the Volkswagen Group. MAN also belongs to Traton. According to electric, Scania is working on battery-electric trucks that are longer and heavier than EU standards. The custom-made products are developed together with three customers in Sweden. The first example is already in use at the Swedish chemical supplier Wibax. Two more giant electric trucks will be delivered to SCA and Jula Logistics this year.
Scania emphasizes that the three electric trucks are not regular series models, but rather one-offs that “were realized together with various partners and through in-depth analysis”. The development takes place in close coordination with the customer. “We simulate the transport processes and deliver the trucks with the most suitable combination of components for the respective transport order – both in terms of vehicle and load. We really see the vehicles as a complete solution.”
The tractor for Wibax travels an 80 kilometer route between Piteå and Skellefteå. Scania says it weighs 10.8 tonnes – about 1.5 tonnes more than a diesel-powered equivalent. The increase in weight is mainly due to the 300 kWh battery pack. The battery is currently recharged with a 150 kW charger, but the charging capacity will be increased in the future.
“Since our founding in 1986 we have strived to be sustainable and as we have identified transport as our biggest environmental impact, this electric truck is a step that ensures we can continue our operations with respect for the climate . During the lifetime of this truck, Wibax will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1,400 tons, making it a real game changer,” says Jonas Wiklund, CEO of the Wibax Group.
For Scania, it is the first electric 64-ton truck to go into service. “The key to achieving zero emissions in transport is electrification, and we will achieve this goal together with customers and other stakeholders who share our values,” says Fredrik Allard, Head of E-Mobility at Scania. “Partnerships like this, where we show early on what’s possible, are a clear sign of the change of pace we need to go fossil-free and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
Together with SCA and the Skogforsk research institute, Scania is working on an electric timber transporter that will ensure a permissible total weight of up to 64 tonnes on public roads and 80 tonnes on private roads. The vehicle is due to arrive later this year in the Swedish region of Västerbotten, where it will transport timber between the SCA terminal in Gimonäs and the paper mill in Obbola near Umeå.
“Working with Scania is an important way for us to find innovative solutions for sustainable transport together. Electric timber transporters will make an important contribution to SCA’s sustainability work,” says Hans Djurberg, Head of Sustainability at SCA. “If we only use one electric truck between Gimonäs and Obbola, we can reduce our CO2 emissions by around 55,000 kilograms per year.”
Scania manager Allard adds that timber transport in particular has always been labeled as a sector that may never be electrified. “The developments of the last few years and what we are now presenting with SCA show how quickly things are progressing both with vehicles and with batteries.” The charging infrastructure for such heavy-duty trucks will be crucial for them to be able to establish themselves.
Electric cement mixers from Volvo Trucks in Denmark
Image courtesy of Volvo Trucks
Danish concrete manufacturer Unicon has ordered 11 Volvo FM Electric Trucks from Volvo Trucks, which will be converted into concrete mixers and used in Denmark. electric reports. The two companies will work together to develop customized electric truck solutions for the concrete industry.
The 11 converted FM Electric Trucks will be delivered by the end of this year. The FM Electric is the largest model from Volvo Trucks. It has a total weight of up to 44 tons and can be configured with many different numbers of axles and battery packs between 450 kWh and 540 kWh.
“With this major order and the ambitious cooperation agreement, we are taking concrete measures behind our CO2 emission targets for our sales department,” says Christian Elleby, Head of Purchasing at Unicon. “With the new electric truck mixers, we are ready to support the demands for zero-emission construction sites in Denmark, which we are seeing from the City of Copenhagen and an increasing number of contractors and construction companies.”
Unicon is the largest producer and supplier of ready-mixed concrete in Denmark. It employs more than 400 people in 35 factories. The annual production is around one million cubic meters, which are transported to the construction sites by 195 trucks. All trucks should be emission-free by 2035.
“With these agreements, we are taking important steps to expand fossil-free distribution solutions to the concrete industry, where heavy vehicle electrification has been a very difficult challenge due to the high loads and continuous mixing needs,” said Peter Ericson, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks in Denmark. “We expect a lot of learning and development for the benefit of an entire industry as a result of the cooperation.”
take that away
Snorting diesels are the backbone of commerce – and a major source of carbon emissions, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. The former kill the planet. The latter will kill us. News of the arrival of electric trucks capable of handling some of transportation’s toughest tasks should be welcome news for anyone who thinks a sustainable planet is a good idea.
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