- Sweden’s Scania found a way to boost the range of its electric big rigs.
- By placing additional batteries behind the cab, Scania can increase the energy capacity by up to 356 kWh.
- MCS charging at up to 750 kW completes the picture.
Scania, the Swedish truck maker owned by the Volkswagen Group, is now offering a battery solution that boosts the driving range of its electric big rigs up to 447 miles (720 kilometers). That’s more than most truck drivers in Europe will ever have to experience between mandatory breaks, but Scania has done it anyway.
By fitting up to 356 kilowatt-hours of additional battery capacity behind the tractor’s cab, the Swedish company can deliver a long-haul solution to freight companies without completely compromising the vehicle’s payload capacity. The extra batteries work in conjunction with the chassis-mounted packs that are offered as standard.
To enable the impressive driving range, which is 106 miles longer than what the European-spec Tesla Semi is capable of, Scania also introduced a slightly more aerodynamic design, dubbed the protruding Increased Vehicle Dimension (IVD) cab. Catchy, I know.
Weird name aside, the truck maker claims the more slippery cab can reduce energy consumption by up to 3% compared to the conventional design, which can add up quickly on long trips. With the additional batteries and slightly longer cab, Scania said its 6x2 tractor can comfortably tow a dual-axle European trailer even if the total vehicle length exceeds 54.1 feet (16.5 meters).
“This is not only about placing batteries in a new position on the vehicle. The larger point is what it enables: electric transport over distances that have traditionally been among the hardest to electrify, with range, payload and charging considered together from the start,” said Lars Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Head of Solutions Management, Scania.
It’s an impressive achievement that gives Scania—and the Volkswagen Group—bragging rights in the trucking industry. Besides the new long-range Scania EV trucks, the latest-generation MAN eTGX, which is also built by the VW Group, delivers an identical 447-mile range on a full charge, courtesy of a 6x2 chassis and 616 kWh of usable energy.
Gallery: Scania Long-Range Electric Truck With Behind-The-Cab Batteries
MCS charging at up to 750 kW is also part of the package, though CCS charging at up to 375 kW is also an option.
However, it’s worth noting that the larger batteries add quite a bit of weight to the vehicle, which in turn means the payload capacity has to suffer. Scania didn’t disclose how much stuff its new long-range truck can haul, but it’s clear that it will be less than a shorter-range model with a lighter battery.
