Large roll-out of electrified heavy road transport

The transition to an electrified freight transport system is an important step towards a sustainable society. The state and industry are now joining forces with just over SEK 400 million to support the two projects Reel and E-Charge. The investment takes place via the Vehicle Strategic research and Innovation (FFI) program.

- The investment accelerates the transition to sustainable road transport and reduces emissions immediately. A gratifying receipt that shows the importance of collaboration and the automotive industry's role for socially beneficial solutions, says Malin Persson, Chairman of the Board of FFI.

Upscaling of regional electrified transport flows

In the Reel project, which is now being scaled up, 40 battery-electric trucks will be used in a number of regional freight transport services. The vehicles will roll all over Sweden, but with concentration in Mälardalen, Skåne and Västra Götaland. Both prototypes and mass-produced trucks with a total weight of 16-74 tons will be included. In addition, the project will include charging infrastructure with digitally connected system support at depots, logistics terminals and other important logistics points. The project brings together transport buyers, freight forwarders and distributors, hauliers, terminal operators, charging point operators, electricity network companies as well as suppliers of trucks, charging equipment and management systems. In addition, regions, cities and universities participate in the project.

- The transition to a fossil-free world requires innovation in society as a whole. This is a clear example of innovation in a broad sense, where companies, authorities and others together address that also business models, behaviors and regulations need to be developed towards sustainability, says Vinnova's director general Darja Isaksson.

System solutions for long-distance transportation with battery-electric vehicles

The E-Charge project develops battery-electric prototype plastic cars that can handle the really long-distance transports, ie daily driving distances longer than 50 km. The vehicles are then tested in a couple of large logistics flows between our largest cities, and are charged with high-power charging in connection with the driver's rest periods. The project combines development work in several thematic areas with research at an integrated system level to build knowledge and understanding of how electrification of long-distance transportation can affect larger systems such as logistics and electrical systems.

- In the project, the largest trucks will be run on electricity, which just a few years ago was basically considered completely impossible. This shows how fast the development is towards fossil freedom in the transport area, says the Swedish Energy Agency's director general Robert Andrén. He also emphasizes that the project will systematically provide useful results to the government's appointed electrification commission.

Both projects will start immediately and run until 2024, and are important funding for achieving a national electrified freight transport system.

More information

Reel

Participating parties in Reel when the project is now scaled up are initially Einride, Scania, the Volvo Group, but more parties from business, regions, cities and academia will be announced shortly. Programmet FFI finances with SEK 85 million and the project partners contribute with SEK 104 million. The state authorities The Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration and Vinnova contribute funding, case expertise, system perspectives and synchronization of R&I support and infrastructure measures. The project is led by the national collaboration platform for transport efficiency, CLOSER by Lindholmen Science Park.
Read more about the project Reel

E-Charge

In the project, Scania and the Volvo Group collaborate with ABB, Circle K and OKQ8. The project also involves ICA Sverige AB, DB Schenker, Tommy Nordbergh Åkeri and Vattenfall and other energy companies and electricity network owners. Swedish Electromobility Centre (SEC) is an external research partner and Lindholmen Science Park coordinates the project. Programmet FFI finances with SEK 102 million and the project partners contribute with SEK 113 million. The state authorities The Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration and Vinnova contribute funding, case expertise, system perspectives and synchronization of R&I support and infrastructure measures.

Vehicle Strategic research and Innovation (FFI)

FFI is a partnership programmes between the state and the automotive industry that funds research, innovation and development with a focus on climate, environment and safety. The financing amounts to approximately SEK 1 billion per year. Participating authorities are the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration and Vinnova. From industry, AB Volvo, FKG, Scania CV AB and Volvo Car Group participate.
Read more about FFI

Electrification Commission

The Electrification Commission advises the government, but also has the government's task of accelerating electrification and contributing proposals for measures that they or other actors can implement. The Commission consists of 16 members and is chaired by Minister of Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth. The members are representatives from politics, business, research institutes and the public sector.
Read more about the Electrification Commission