Sweden would like to be at the forefront of sustainability. The country will therefore test the first all-electric truck before the end of May. This will make Sweden the first country to conduct such a test on public roads.
The experiment will take place just outside the city of Gävle on a two-kilometre stretch of motorway. Final preparations are currently being made there. As the test is being carried out for heavy transport, the roads have to be able to withstand some rough handling. Truck manufacturer Scania is also taking part in the test. The trucks are equipped with a pantograph that draws power from the overhead line, providing electricity to the truck. At the end of the overhead line, the special trucks can switch to a hybrid drive.
CO2 emissions backwards
The test should bring about a breakthrough in sustainable transport. The researchers are keen to tackle CO2 emissions. One of the project's main funders, the Swedish Transport Administration, wants to show that electric roads are feasible. Anders Berndtsson, strategist at the Swedish Transport Administration's research and innovation division, hopes the test will be positively received. "We hope the pilot shows that electric roads work from a technical point of view. The biggest benefit of the project is that we will speed up the process of electrified roads and create a good basis for decision-making on how to further address CO2 emissions from heavy transport vehicles."
Cooperation government and business
Not only the Swedish government has invested in the project (more than eight million euros), but the business community is also investing five million euros. Both the Swedish government and industry want to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in transport with the ultimate goal of making Sweden's fleet completely free of fossil fuels by the year 2030.
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