Scania has been involved in taking a host of initiatives to reduce emissions in line with science and with the Paris Agreement. These corporate targets are made to align with the company’s ambitions for volume and growth. The company is confident that when it comes to Scania’s own direct global emissions, they will be at zero in ten years. However, the company expects governments to work together and align with science in the same way so that investment in infrastructure can come.
From its part, Scania is ready for the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
According to the recent announcement, the Swedish commercial vehicle maker has an electrification roadmap that will guide and ensure it has a new electrified product available annually. The company already has fully electric trucks and buses on the market that have a range of up to 250 km per charge, and it is confident of expanding its range up to 500 km in four to five years. This is because the need for transport is constantly increasing, which is something that society depends on. But profit margins in the transport business can be slim, making change difficult. At the same time, a significant portion of global CO2 emissions, around a quarter, come from transport. So the company firmly believes that it is a part of the problem, and therefore, it must be part of the solution.
In terms of reducing emissions with electric vehicles, things are happening faster than what was expected even a couple of years ago. According to the company, there are three main reasons for this. The first and foremost is that sustainability demands are increasing, not only regarding CO2 emissions but also local air and noise pollution. Secondly, it is profitable for the customer; due to the costs of energy and road fees, electric vehicles are becoming competitive more quickly. Thirdly, the technical conditions, the battery capacity and rapid charging technology are improving rapidly.
Scania has signed up to do its part to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees. The vehicle maker approved Science Based Targets for 2025 and has signed the Climate Pledge, committing to be fully net-zero by 2040. These commitments cover emissions from its own operations and when its products are used by the customers – where 96% of the total emissions from its operations and products are generated.
The company offers a wide range of electrified and hybrid vehicles and the widest range of biofuel-compatible engines to make this shift possible. While biofuels will be important as transition fuels in operations considered difficult to electrify – such as timber transports, remote transports, heavy and long-haulage transports – the company is also working to electrify these segments and testing electric vehicles with early-mover customers.
As part of its strategy, Scania has earlier launched a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) for urban operations. The 29-tonne BEV has a range of 250 km when charged for 90 minutes, while the PHEV of the same tonnage has an all-electric range of 60 km when fully charged.
The Roadmap
In 2022, Scania will release an updated, 36-tonne PHEV, with an all-electric range of 60 km after 30 minutes of charging. In 2023, it will have heavier BEV trucks capable of running for four hours with a 40-tonne gross weight or three hours with a 60-tonne gross weight, intended for regional transport.
In the following year, long-distance electric trucks will enter the market, adapted for fast charging during drivers’ 45-minute rest breaks. These will be capable of running between four and four and a half hours, depending on whether the vehicle weighs 40 or 60 tonne.
By 2025, the commercial vehicle company will be able to electrify most operations, including construction, mining, long haulage and timber trucks. This is also the year when 10% of its volume sales will be electrified.
In the second half of the decade, it will have the technical capability to electrify more or less any application; however, it will not yet be profitable for all customers in all markets. But by 2030, as per its plan, 50% of its total vehicle sales volumes should be electrified.
However, for all this to fructify, the critical requirement is access to charging infrastructure and renewable electricity. Therefore, for Scania, infrastructure investments and partnerships for battery electric vehicles remain a priority.
Fredrik Allard, Senior Vice President for e-mobility, Scania, says, 'Knowing what's coming and when, means that we can help the customers plan far ahead – which is hugely important when it comes to things like charging infrastructure that can take substantial time to implement. Through strong partnerships and alliances with stakeholders in not just the traditional transport industry, but also when it comes to things such as energy infrastructure and green power, we intend to not just follow this industry transition, but to be at the forefront of it. Driving the shift as we like to say.”
At the end of the day, Scania wants to provide the most efficient electric vehicles possible. The company believes that it is likely because it has in-house development and manufacturing of all core components. Besides, it also uses connected vehicle data to design the batteries and optimise systems, with battery cells specifically adapted for heavy vehicles.