Heavy industry is the most difficult for the transition to electric mobility, or at least that is what most would imagine. In a few years we will see a large fleet of electric trucks circulating on our roads performing the same tasks as any current thermal model. Currently we can already see a few units doing exceptional work, as is the case of the world’s first timber truck delivered by Scania. An emission-free beast.
SCA is a Swedish company dedicated, among other businesses, to offering wood from renewable forests. With a total area of 2.6 million hectares in the north of the country, SCA plants trees to subsequently extract the wood using sustainable systems. A value chain that is now reinforced by the presence of the first timber transport truck with 100% electric technologies with which it is intended to save 55 tons of CO2.
The development has not been easy because it is necessary to take into account the special tasks that arise on this occasion. Scania, SCA and the Skogforsk Research Institute have worked together. The main tasks will be to transport the cut wood from the SCA terminal to the paper mill. Over the next few months, its characteristics will be tested to collect data to analyze the advisability of transforming the entire truck fleet to 100% electric mechanics.
After this brief period of analysis, the first logging truck will definitely enter service, joining the work as one more. All specifications are most surprising. The weight of the tractor head is 10.8 tons, 1,500 kilograms more than the corresponding model with a diesel engine. Much of this weight gain is due to extensive battery pack that is responsible for moving the truck; 624 kWh of gross capacity and 468 kWh of net capacity.
Unlike the Scania 45 R/S presented last month, the electric logging truck must support higher load capacities than initially thought, reaching 80 tons of towing capacity on private roads. With these characteristics, it is expected that the autonomy range will hardly exceed 200 kilometers. Initially it is established a route with six trips per day between the terminal and the paper mill. A journey of about 30 kilometers which will last 75 minutes, including loading and unloading.
For recharging you choose a ABB 180 kW charger installed at the Obbola paper mill which will recover battery life in just under three hours. Of course, all parties have been delighted with the step taken, indicating the importance of one of the toughest logistics jobs in the world being carried out by an electric truck. One more step towards the definitive implementation of emission-free freight transport.
