Scania has achieved a historical milestone as a result of a partnership that demonstrates fossil fuel free transportation. The world's first electric road has been opened near the Swedish city of Gavle where Scania has supplied electrically powered hybrid trucks which can run on a 2kilometer long stretch of road under full electric mode. This is quite a view into the near future when it comes to commercial transport.
How does the system work? The electric hybrid powered Scania G360 truck (specs of the truck are stated down below with the press release) receives electrical power from a pantograph power collector that is mounted on the frame behind the truck's cabin. The pantographs are in turn connected to overhead power lines that are above the right-hand lane of the road, and the trucks can freely connect to and disconnect from the overhead wires while in motion. Something like what electric powered trains and trams but with the ability to freely move outside of the grid.
So when the truck goes outside the electrically-powered lane, the pantograph is disconnected and the truck is then powered by the combustion engine or by its battery operated electric motor (which should re-charge via the engine or via the pantograph power grid). The same principle applies when the driver wants to overtake another vehicle while on the electrified strip of the road.
Scania´s sees the electric road as being a key component in achieving Sweden’s ambition of an energy-efficient and fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030 and are actually partly funding this programme. The Swedish transport authority Trafikverket, the Swedish Energy Agency Energimyndigheten, innovation agency Vinnova, Scania and Siemens are the main funders of the technology, while Region Gävleborg is the project coordinator. The investment in the Electric Road E16 programme in Gävle is a result of a programme for the public procurement of innovative solutions that was launched by Swedish authorities. The programme consists of about SEK 77 million in public money, with about SEK 48 million in co-financing from the business community and the Gävleborg regional authority, which administers the area of Sweden where the electric road is situated.
This is why Nordic countries and companies are doing wonders. They're putting their money where it counts in order to make the world a better place.
PRESS RELEASE
World’s first electric road opens in Sweden
The world´s first electric road is being inaugurated near the city of Gävle in central Sweden, the result of a unique partnership demonstrating the path towards fossil-free transportation. Scania is supplying with the electrically-powered trucks, which will operate under real traffic conditions.
Opening today, 22 June, the two-kilometre strip on the E16 motorway sees electrified trucks from Scania driven in open traffic, using conductive technology developed by Siemens.
The beauty of the new technology, which is the result of several years of cooperation between the Swedish Government and the private sector, is that it permits the trucks to operate as electric vehicles when on the electrified road and as regular hybrid vehicles at other times. All the Scania trucks on the road are hybrid and Euro 6-certified, running on biofuel.
Scania’s head of Research and Development Claes Erixon, says, “The electric road is one important milestone on the journey towards fossil-free transport. Scania is committed to the success of this project and is committed to sustainable transport solutions.”
The truck receives electrical power from a pantograph power collector that is mounted on the frame behind its cab. The pantographs are in turn connected to overhead power lines that are above the right-hand lane of the road, and the trucks can freely connect to and disconnect from the overhead wires while in motion.
When the truck goes outside the electrically-powered lane, the pantograph is disconnected and the truck is then powered by the combustion engine or the battery- operated electric motor. The same principle applies when the driver wants to overtake another vehicle while on the electrified strip of the road.
Scania´s sees the electric road as being a key component in achieving Sweden’s ambition of an energy-efficient and fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. It can also help to strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness in the rapidly-developing area of sustainable transport.
Nils-Gunnar Vågstedt, who is responsible for Scania’s research into electrification, adds, “The potential fuel savings through electrification are considerable and the technology can become a cornerstone for fossil-free road transport services.”
The investment in the Electric Road E16 programme in Gävle is a result of a programme for the public procurement of innovative solutions that was launched by Swedish authorities. The programme consists of about SEK 77 million in public money, with about SEK 48 million in co-financing from the business community and the Gävleborg regional authority, which administers the area of Sweden where the electric road is situated.
The Swedish transport authority Trafikverket, the Swedish Energy Agency Energimyndigheten, innovation agency Vinnova, Scania and Siemens are the main funders of the technology, while Region Gävleborg is the project coordinator.
The electric road is only one of several pioneering technologies that Scania is working on to help the spread of sustainable solutions within both urban and long-haul transport. The company is also developing technologies for alternative fuels, hybridised and fully-electric vehicles, and autonomously and wirelessly-connected transport in parallel with its work to further enhance and refine the products of the future.
Technical parameters of the Scania vehicle
| Truck model: | Scania G 360 4×2, weight 9.0 ton |
| Powertrain: | Parallell hybrid, integrated in the gearbox (GRS895) |
| Engine: | 9-litre, 360 hp (runs on biofuel) |
| Electric motor: | 130kW, 1050Nm |
| Battery: | Li-Ion 5 kWh (gives a driving range up to 3 km when not running on the e-way) |
| System voltage: | 700V |
No comments:
Post a Comment