Scania joins UK study on heavy goods vehicle electrification

Scania is set to participate in a UK-based study assessing the viability of electrifying long-haul trucks using overhead catenary wires. The project, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, aims to determine the technology's readiness for a national rollout.

The study is part of a £20 million government initiative for zero-emission road freight trials. Funding for the consortium, which includes Siemens Mobility, Costain, and academic institutions, was awarded by Innovate UK.

The consortium proposes Siemens Mobility's 'eHighway' technology, which allows specially adapted trucks to draw power from overhead lines. This system enables trucks to operate on electricity, similar to trains, while also carrying batteries for driving off-wire during the final leg of journeys or for overtaking. The nine-month study is intended to pave the way for a potential national infrastructure of electric roads by the 2030s.

According to James Armstrong, Managing Director for Scania (Great Britain) Limited, electrifying road freight is crucial for the UK's net-zero emission goals. He noted that electric road technology has been demonstrated as a viable and cost-effective alternative for customers, with the aim of establishing a practical and affordable electric road system for the freight industry.