Scania tests new solar-powered hybrid truck
Scania and partners are testing a unique hybrid truck with a solar panel-covered trailer on public roads. The aim is to reduce operational costs and local emissions through self-generated energy.
Scania, along with several partners including Uppsala University and Midsummer, is testing a novel hybrid truck featuring a trailer almost entirely covered in solar panels on public roads. This initiative stems from a two-year research collaboration aimed at reducing operational costs and local emissions by utilizing solar energy for the truck's powertrain.
The project investigates the amount of solar energy generated and its impact on reducing carbon emissions. Researchers have developed new, efficient, and lightweight solar panels specifically for this application. The study also examines how these trucks can interact with the power grid and explores potential models for networked vehicle integration.
The 18-meter trailer is equipped with solar panels equivalent to a residential solar installation. This solar power is projected to extend the hybrid truck's driving range by up to 5,000 kilometers annually in Sweden. In sunnier regions, the energy output and range could potentially double.
Further advancements include research into new, lightweight tandem solar cells, combining Midsummer's technology with perovskite cells. This aims to enhance sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency, potentially doubling energy generation.
The truck, a 560-horsepower plug-in hybrid, will be operated in regular transport services by Ernsts Express AB. Its 100-square-meter solar panel array has a peak output of 13.2 kWp and is expected to produce approximately 8,000 kWh per year under Swedish conditions. The total battery capacity is 300 kWh.