Scania’s solar-powered hybrid truck hits the road in public testing

Swedish truck manufacturer Scania has introduced the world’s first solar-powered hybrid truck.

With the potential to travel up to 10,000 kilometres annually, this first-of-its-kind truck has already undergone successful testing on public roads. The company now aims to bring this groundbreaking technology to the public.

“Scania’s purpose is to drive the shift towards a sustainable transport system. Never before have solar panels been used to generate energy to a truck’s powertrain like we do in this collaboration,” said Stas Krupenia, head of the research office at Scania.

“This natural energy source can significantly decrease emissions in the transport sector. It is great to be at the forefront in the development of the next generation’s trucks.”

Businesses and organisations worldwide are transitioning from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to more sustainable alternatives. The hybrid truck is currently part of a research project to assess how much solar power these trucks can generate and how much they can reduce carbon emissions through solar panels.

Scania worked with researchers to develop lightweight and efficient solar panels designed specifically for trucks. The researchers are looking at how trucks interact with the power grid and exploring the potential of connecting multiple solar-equipped trucks to the grid.

“This is an exciting project where academia and industry together try to decrease the climate impact from truck transports. The results from this unique truck will be very interesting,” said Erik Johansson, project manager and professor of physical chemistry at Uppsala University.

Sustainable transport solution with solar energy

Scania’s innovative hybrid truck boasts a 560-horsepower plug-in hybrid engine. Its 18-metre trailer is nearly entirely covered in solar panels.

The solar power provides the truck with a driving range of up to 5,000 kilometres annually in Sweden, with the potential to double that figure in regions with more sunlight hours.

Apart from the solar panel tech, this project has led to the creation of affordable dual solar cells using Midsummer’s panels and new perovskite solar cells. These cells aim to enhance the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity, potentially resulting in a double increase in solar energy production compared to the current ones.

In the long run, the objective is to develop trucks with minimal environmental footprint by harnessing solar energy, thereby offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for the transportation industry.