Scania to Test Overhead Line-Powered Trucks in Real-World Conditions
ScaniaScania said it will begin testing electric trucks powered by overhead lines, similar to how many modern streetcars and trolleys are powered, in real-world conditions starting next February.
The company will test the trucks on a 1.24-mile "electric road" test route being built on the highway between the Port of Gavle and Storvik in Sweden.
The test is part of Swedish government’s goal of an energy efficient and fossil fuel free vehicle fleet by 2030, according to Scania.
“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,” Nils-Gunnar Vågstedt, head of hybrid systems for Scania, said in a statement.
Power to the trucks is transferred from overhead lines through a power collector mounted on the frame behind the cab using technology developed by Siemens.
Trials of electric trucks powered by the overhead lines have been conducted by Siemens since 2013 with Scania at a research facility outside Berlin.
The system is expected to reduce a truck's fossil fuel emission by 80% to 90% and reduce operating costs as less energy is required due to the increased efficiency of the electric engine and the use of a cheaper source of energy than diesel, according to Scania.
A similar program was previously announced in California where Siemens said it would install an overhead power system for trucks near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Up to four trucks will make multiple drives per day on the California test track, according to Siemens. Installation is expected to be completed by July.
