Scania Finds Room for More Batteries and 720 km of Electric Range

Battery packs behind the cab, megawatt charging and a longer front make electric long-haul practical with standard European trailers, while the Scania Dynamic update trims energy use across the range.

Long-haul is the hardest part of road freight to electrify. Range, payload, trailer compatibility and charging all pull in different directions. Scania’s answer is to find somewhere new to put batteries.

Batteries behind the cab

In a typical configuration, Scania mounts two MP20 battery packs behind the cab, adding about 356 kWh of installed capacity on top of the chassis and under-cab batteries. Combined with Megawatt Charging System (MCS) support, this enables electric ranges of up to 720 km, depending on configuration and operating conditions.

The layout works with Scania’s protruding IVD (Increased Vehicle Dimension) front, allowing selected 6×2*4 tractors to pull standard European trailers even when total vehicle length exceeds 16.5 metres, while keeping turning performance. The longer front also cuts energy consumption by up to 3% on battery-electric trucks, because air drag is a larger share of total energy use when there is no combustion engine.

“Long-haul operations place very different demands on range, payload and charging. This is not only about placing batteries in a new position on the vehicle. The larger point is what it enables: electric transport over distances that have traditionally been among the hardest to electrify.”

Said Lars Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Head of Solutions Management at Scania.

Scania Dynamic: small gains, everywhere

Alongside the long-haul solution, Scania has introduced Scania Dynamic, a broad update of its R- and S-series. Total energy consumption drops by around 2%, depending on specification and operation, thanks to digital rear-view mirrors, side skirt extensions, redesigned A-pillars, new door handles and the IVD-compliant front.

Inside, drivers get updated materials with more recycled content, new lighting options up to an “Ambient+” level, revised seats, an 800 mm reclining bed, improved headlamps with automatic high beam, and driver support functions such as Safe Stop Assist, Speed Sign Cruise Control and Curve Speed Cruise Control.

Scania’s digital services add to the efficiency story. In a study of 900 drivers, its ProDriver coaching tool delivered average fleet fuel savings of 3.1%, and up to 5% for some drivers.

Five stars for safety

Scania’s G-series and R-series have also received five stars in Euro NCAP’s haulage assessment, with a 96% score for crash avoidance and a City Safe Award for both. The assessment covered R- and G-series 4×2 tractors and 6×2 rigids.

Also from Scania

The company has launched Venture & New Business China, a platform to pilot new business models in energy transition and autonomous transport, led by Kelly Fu and linked to Scania’s production hub in the Nantong-Rugao region.

Scania Finds Room for More Batteries and 720 km of Electric Range published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.