Scania trials solar-powered truck on public roads

Scania is conducting a solar-powered hybrid truck test on public roads in Sweden.

Judging by the weather in Britain (this summer in particular), we’re not sure how useful a solar-powered truck would be over on this side of the Channel – but here’s the press release in full:

Scania is trialling solar power technology on public roads as part of a two-year research collaboration with Uppsala University, Eksjö Maskin & Truck, Midsummer, Ernsts Express and Dalakraft.

The unique 560 bhp plug-in hybrid truck has been paired with an 18m trailer covered in new lightweight tandem solar panels, with the truck set to be tested on public roads by haulage company Ernsts Express AB.

Stas Krupenia, Head of the Research Office at Scania AB, said: “Never before have solar panels been used to generate energy to power a truck.

“This natural energy source can significantly decrease emissions in the transport sector. And it is great to be at the forefront in the development of the next generation’s trucks.”

Lars Evertsson, CEO at Ernsts Express, said: “The whole industry is facing big challenges in general, especially with the cost of fuels. Electrification from renewable electricity is the future.”

More than 100 m2 of space on the trailer has been covered by unique thin, lightweight and flexible solar panels. These include Midsummer’s new perovskite solar cells, which allow for double the solar energy generation compared to traditional solar cells.

They produce a maximum efficiency of 13.2 kWp (kilowatt peak), which will replenish 300kWh of batteries on the vehicle – 100kWh on the truck and 200kWh in the trailer.

Erik Olsson, Head of Corporate Development at Midsummer, said: “Our solar panels are excellent for applications that make commercial vehicles sustainable. We see great potential to decrease the emissions from heavy vehicles with electrification.

“Electricity generated by solar panels will save fuel and carbon emissions. We want to be a partner to count on, and that is enabled by this ground-breaking project.”

This research project has been partly funded by the Swedish government agency for innovation, Vinnova, to develop trucks with low climate impact using solar energy.

It has been designed to examine the energy generated and the overall decrease in carbon emissions.

The solar energy produced gives the hybrid truck a prolonged driving range of up to 5000 km annually in Sweden. In countries like Spain, with more sun hours, the vehicle could feasibly double its driving range.

Erik Johansson, Project Manager and Professor of Physical Chemistry at Uppsala University, said: “This is an exciting project where academia and industry together try to decrease the climate impact from transportation.

“Our research towards efficient and light solar cells will be truly important, especially when it comes to applying them in future trucks.”

They’ve also studied how trucks can interact with the power grid, and bring forward new models for what will happen, if several trucks like this one, are connected to the grid.

One part of the project was to evaluate the charging impact on the electricity grid and whether it would be possible to sell the surplus.

Sverker Ericsson, Electrical Trade Engineer at Dalakraf, said: “We thought we would be able to buy the truck’s surplus energy, unfortunately, that is not possible at the moment.

“But the solar cells becoming part of the truck’s energy supply is fantastic. As an electricity trading company, we see all renewable energy sources are needed to cope with the energy transition.”

Daniel Sandh, CEO Eksjö Maskin & Truck, adds: “Fuel is currently an increasing cost for haulage companies, and everything we can contribute with to lower this cost will benefit the society long-term.”