Swedish truck manufacturer Scania is taking steps to promote sustainable transportation with electric trucks in the country. During the winter holiday weeks of 13 February to 10 March, Scania will use electric trucks to distribute goods to shops, restaurants, and cafes in the Swedish mountain town of Åre. However, the town lacks the necessary infrastructure for fast charging, so Scania will place a mobile charging unit in Åre for the period.
Jessica Björkquist, responsible for e-mobility at Scania Sweden, said, “In the coming years, we will see an increasing proportion of goods transports with electric trucks, and we want to pave the way for the sustainable transport of the future.”
Scania aims to demonstrate that electrification is possible even in places with limited charging opportunities. According to Björkquist, an electric truck charged with green energy can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to the equivalent diesel truck. Scania’s mobile charging unit is intended to show that waiting for either grid capacity or charging posts is not necessary to electrify transportation.
Åre, which attracts about 13,000 to 15,000 ski guests a day during the winter holiday weeks, sees a significant increase in goods deliveries during this period. Martin & Servera, a Swedish wholesaler, notes a 30% increase in sales compared to other winter season weeks. Sandberg & Jonsson, a haulage company that runs for DB Schenker, delivers goods to about 35 restaurants, cafes, and public businesses in Åre on behalf of Martin & Servera.
Sandberg & Jonsson is heavily investing in sustainable transport and put the first all-electric truck in Jämtland into operation in the summer of 2022. The Scania 25P is charged at night at the haulage company’s depot in Östersund and delivers goods in Östersund and on Frösön with a support charge during lunchtime.
During the winter holidays, the electric truck will deliver goods between Östersund and Åre, and the mobile charging unit in Åre will simplify the process. The charging unit fits in a container with a charging post for a capacity of up to 150 kW for CCS2 charging of two vehicles. It is supplied with electricity through Northvolt’s Voltpack Mobile System with an energy storage of 560 kWh.
During the busiest days, the first goods deliveries with electric trucks will be carried out in Åre. This is a significant step towards sustainable transportation that benefits the environment and the climate in several ways. Scania’s initiative shows that sustainable transport can be achieved even in locations with limited charging infrastructure, and it is hoped that other companies will follow suit in the coming years.
