Scania targets electric long-haul transport with up to 720 km range
Scania has presented an electric long-haul truck solution combining additional batteries behind the cab, megawatt charging and a revised front design. According to the manufacturer, selected configurations can achieve a range of up to 720 kilometres, depending on specification and operating conditions.
The solution combines batteries mounted behind the cab with those on the chassis and under the cab. The layout increases installed energy capacity and gives operators more flexibility to balance range, payload and vehicle configuration for long-distance assignments.
In a typical configuration, two MP20 battery packs behind the cab add approximately 356 kWh of installed capacity. The solution also supports Megawatt Charging System (MCS) charging, designed to shorten charging stops and help fit electric trucks into long-haul transport schedules.
“Electric trucks are already part of the transport system, but long-haul operations place very different demands on range, payload and charging. With this solution, Scania is showing how those pieces can come together in a practical way for customers who want to electrify demanding long-distance routes,” says Lars Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Head of Solutions Management at Scania.
Additional batteries and standard European trailers
Combined with Scania’s protruding IVD (Increased Vehicle Dimension) front, the battery layout supports selected 6x2*4 tractor configurations with standard European trailers.
According to Scania, the combination enables an overall vehicle length exceeding 16.5 metres while maintaining trailer compatibility and turning performance. This allows additional battery capacity to be incorporated into configurations intended for European long-haul operations.
Scania says the new front can also reduce energy consumption by up to three percent on battery-electric vehicles, depending on specification and operation. Aerodynamic performance is particularly relevant for electric trucks, where wind resistance accounts for a larger share of total energy use.
Range, payload and charging considered together
Beyond range, the suitability of an electric truck depends on load requirements, trailer compatibility, charging arrangements and bodywork requirements. Scania’s approach is to address these factors together, using additional battery positions to expand the available configuration options.
“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, with range, payload and charging considered together from the start,” Gustafsson says.
