Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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Södra plans to invest in a battery-electric long-haul truck in its daily logistics chain for transporting woodchips. Using self-produced, fossil-free electricity to charge the woodchip truck, the environmental footprint from these transport operations will be dramatically reduced. The electric woodchip truck is supplied by Scania and represents a milestone in Södra’s long-term goal of transitioning to fossil-free transportation.
In the present day, road transport plays a key role in the Swedish forest industry, and as one of the largest buyers of transport services, Södra has long strived to make its logistics more efficient and environmentally friendly. Truck transport accounts for about 5 percent of Södra’s fossil CO₂ emissions when indirect emissions are also included. By introducing this long-haul truck to transport woodchips in Blekinge and eastern Småland, Södra is taking an important step towards a fossil-free future.
Road transport plays a key role in the Swedish forest industry, and as one of the largest buyers of transport services, Södra has long strived to make its logistics more efficient and environmentally friendly. Truck transport accounts for about 5 percent of Södra’s fossil CO₂ emissions when indirect emissions are also included. By introducing this long-haul truck to transport woodchips in Blekinge and eastern Småland, Södra is taking an important step towards a fossil-free future ,” said Henrik Brodin, Project Manager for A Fossil-Free Södra.
Part of the TREE project
The pilot project is part of the TREE project, an initiative coordinated by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk). The overarching objective of the project is to contribute to ensuring that battery-electric vehicles accounts for 50 percent of new truck sales in the forestry industry by 2030. In addition to Södra, a further 20 partners are participating in this ambitious initiative, including other forest companies, logistics companies, haulage companies, charging infrastructure companies, technology companies and universities.
The project will answer important questions regarding route optimisation and charging infrastructure, knowledge that can help Södra and its contract hauliers to reduce their costs and environmental footprint across the value chain.
Scania supplier of electric woodchip truck
The electric woodchip truck is a Scania 45R with a load capacity of up to 64 tonnes. With an estimated range of 250 to 300 kilometres when deployed in Södra’s operations, it is ideal for regional transport operations in eastern Småland.
The truck has three integrated electric motors providing a continuous power output level equivalent to 610 hp and comes equipped with 624 kWh of batteries installed. The truck has a charging capability of 375 kW, which means that charging time is minimised and is usually around one hour under normal operations. The electric woodchip truck will be introduced into regular route planning and will operate just like the rest of Södra’s truck fleet.
“It’s clear that a major shift to fossil-free electrified road transport is under way. It will be interesting to see how the electric woodchip truck performs once it is integrated into Södra’s daily production operations,” said Patrik Svanberg at Scania Sverige AB.
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Tags: battery-electric, Södra, wood and panel, woodchip truck, woodworking, woodworking industry, woodworking UK
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