Scania expands electric truck options
Scania has announced it is further expanding its offer regarding battery-electric vehicle (BEV) trucks by introducing more electric machines (electric motor and gearbox combinations), axle configurations and cab alternatives to its range, plus a number of power take-off solutions.
“We are steadily adding more and more customer value and specification choices with our continuous introductions,” says Fredrik Allard, senior vice president, and head of E-mobility at Scania.
“And the customers reward us with increased interest since it is now obvious how well these trucks serve and behave in actual operations and how truly appreciated they are among drivers. We constantly hear stories about drivers that were sceptical at first, but then fell in love with their electric trucks.”
The new solutions will be particularly relevant for operators involved in distribution and construction-related work, says Scania. Offering a tandem bogie axle for BEVs means that tippers, hook lifts, concrete mixers and a number of other rigid-based applications can be specified without having to sacrifice traction or load-carrying capacity.
The manufacturer is also introducing a number of different power take off-solutions for powering hydraulics or other bodybuilder equipment.
In addition, the two versions – 210 kW and 240 kW – of the electric machine EM C1-2 that are now being introduced are the perfect fit for construction-oriented operations, says the firm, since the power levels (285 hp or 326 hp) match the typical specification for trucks used by municipalities. The EM C1-2 is physically shorter than its more powerful siblings, which opens up space for batteries and/or equipment such as supporting legs.
It is said to be the perfect all-rounder for many lighter operations, combining low weight with high power output, lots of torque and smooth power delivery with two gears. It is ideal for operations in urban environments within distribution, says Scania, but equally suited for many other applications such as the diverse kinds of vehicles that municipalities use for maintenance. For a typical distribution truck, the designation would be Scania 24 P (for the 240 kW version).
“It is the 9-litre engine equivalent if I were to do a diesel comparison,” said Allard.
“It’s the kind of electric machine that fits in an endless number of operations by being light and flexible, yet also powerful. It has one single permanent magnet, two gears and is really ‘torquey’ for its size. It offers driveability and the smoothness that drivers have come to expect from electric powertrains.”
The market for electric vehicles is maturing faster in some areas than others, says Scania, and most of this is related to the availability of a charging infrastructure (and access to power supply). Finding the right charging solution does not have to be complicated, though, the firm contends; Scania can guide the customer through the whole process and help set up the right charging solution.
“It’s a common misconception that charging is more complicated than it actually is,” said Allard. “Many customers will do fine with a standard depot charging solution that we can guide them in designing and building.”
Another area that initially offered certain challenges when going electric is the power take-out (PTO), the manufacturer adds; efficient and robust PTOs are essential for many applications which is why Scania is now adding a number of different PTO solutions.
Scania says its battery-electric trucks offer impressive figures on the battery side, too. The batteries will last for 1.3 million kilometres, the lifetime of the truck, it says; while their carbon footprint is low as they are produced with fossil-free electricity in northern Sweden.
Scania has chosen lithium-ion batteries in prismatic shapes that are assembled in Södertälje into battery packs of 416 or 624 kWh, with state-of-charge windows of approximately 83 per cent usable energy.
