Skip to main content

Scania to test electric trucks and buses in real-life conditions

In February 2016, Scania will begin testing electric trucks as part of the Swedish Gävle Electric Road project, which will demonstrate and evaluate conductive technology, using electric transmission through overhead lines above vehicles equipped with a pantograph power collector. The Swedish Transport Administration has now approved support for the project, which is in line with the Government’s goal of an energy-efficient and fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. The project consists of about US$9.2 millio
June 9, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
In February 2016, 570 Scania will begin testing electric trucks as part of the Swedish Gävle Electric Road project, which will demonstrate and evaluate conductive technology, using electric transmission through overhead lines above vehicles equipped with a pantograph power collector.

The 746 Swedish Transport Administration has now approved support for the project, which is in line with the Government’s goal of an energy-efficient and fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. The project consists of about US$9.2 million in public financing combined with about US$6 million in co-financing from the business community and the Gävleborg region.

The project is part of the Electric Roads Project, one of the largest innovation procurement projects currently under way in Europe. In cooperation with the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Energy Agency and Vinnova, industry and academia will demonstrate and evaluate electric roads as a possible method for reducing the use of fossil energy in the transport system.   

Scania’s trucks will operate goods transport services on a two-kilometre test route which is being built between the Port of Gävle and Storvik along European highway 16. The trucks are equipped with an electric hybrid powertrain developed by Scania.

Power to the trucks is transferred from overhead lines through a pantograph power collector mounted on the frame behind the cab. This technology has been developed by 189 Siemens, which since 2013 has conducted trials of electric trucks with Scania at its research facility outside Berlin.

Scania is also participating in another research initiative as part of the Electric Roads Project, where induction technology will be tested in city bus services. A Scania city bus featuring an electric hybrid powertrain will go into daily operation in Södertälje in June 2016. There will be a charging station at one of the bus stops where the bus will be able to refill with enough energy in just six to seven minutes to complete its journey.

“The potential fuel savings though electrification are considerable and the technology can become a cornerstone for fossil-free road transport services. Electric roads are also a way to develop more eco-friendly transport services by using the existing road network,” says Nils-Gunnar Vågstedt, who is responsible for Scania’s research in this field.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Vienna tests energy saving tram
    August 21, 2013
    Vienna public transport operator Wiener Linien is testing an energy saving tram, the EcoTram, using it in daily operation until May 2014. The tram is part of a bigger project to make public transport vehicles more energy efficient. A Siemens ultra low floor tram has been equipped with intelligent control units that predict whether cooling or heating will be required. If the tram enters a tunnel where the ambient temperature is cooler, the air-conditioning will be turned down. The units control three air
  • Navya to launch self-driving electric shuttle service in Abu Dhabi project
    October 26, 2018
    Navya’s self-driving electric shuttle will operate as a daily mobility service for a planned city project in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The Autonom shuttle will link parking areas in Masdar City with its main podium. Navya and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport have customised the shuttle to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and humidity on battery performance. They also carried out health and safety tests to ensure the safety of passengers and pedestrians. Autonom can c
  • Confusion over electric motors for heavy trucks
    December 19, 2016
    According to Dr Peter Harrop of research company IDTechEx, there is still no agreement on the best type of electric motor to use in heavy trucks. The company’s analysis indicates that the booming, confusing traction motor business will rise to around US$400 billion in 2027. Its new report, Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2017-2027 navigates the jargon, the design options and the disagreements. The changing needs and evolving technology are matched to create forecasts and technology timelines based
  • ITS solutions to keep truck traffic moving
    June 8, 2015
    David Crawford reviews freight management initiatives. Managing truck traffic to minimise its environmental impacts, without adversely impacting on its critical economic role, continues to drive ITS-based solutions in both urban and interurban contexts.