SCA recently launched a new logging truck for its wood business. SCA is the manager of forestry activities on 2.6 million hectares of forest area in northern Sweden and 60,000 hectares in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
This 80-ton electric lumber tractor is the first of its kind in the world. It was created as part of a joint effort between Scania and SCA with the aim of developing a value chain free of fossil fuels. From Scania’s timber terminal in Gimons to the paper mill in Obbola outside of Ume, wood will be transported using the truck.
Even extremely heavy transport can be electrified, as demonstrated by the 80-tonne battery-powered lumber truck. The collaboration with SCA is an early demonstration of what is feasible and a resounding affirmation that even heavy transportation can be electrified. According to Fredrik Allard, Head of E-mobility at Scania, a shift in direction is necessary to achieve Sweden’s fossil-free status on schedule and meet the Paris Agreement’s goal.
With the new vehicle, SCA Obbolas Paper Mill hopes to go one step further and lessen its reliance on fossil fuels in the supply chain that transports raw materials to the facility. The paper mill already functions without fossil fuels. A research team from Institute Skogforsk will test-drive the electric timber truck over the summer while keeping an eye on it in order to gather pertinent information to compare the new vehicle’s environmental affects to those of conventional diesel logging trucks. When they’re finished, they intend to integrate it into SCA’s routine operations.
An electrified lumber truck is a pretty cool metaphor. It has been suggested that it may never be possible to electrify lumber shipping. According to Allard, the development in recent years and what we are currently demonstrating with SCA demonstrate how quickly both batteries and automobiles are developing.
Energy use, productivity, costs compared to current vehicles, and what would be necessary for a nationwide adoption of electric wood trucks, should that occur, are some of the topics that will be examined throughout the summer.
Having the capacity to power the heaviest vehicles offers enormous promise for SCA’s sustainability initiatives, according to Jrgen Bendz, Industrial Supply Manager at SCA.
We have made great efforts and progress in achieving fossil-free energy in our industries, and a sizable portion of our transportation is by rail, therefore we have been eager to discover a fossil-free solution for the heavy truck transport of raw materials to the industry. He added, “We hope and think that electric lumber trucks will eventually prove to be the solution to this problem.
A FEW FACTS RELATING TO SCAS’S NICE, NEW LOGGING TRUCK Between Gimonas and Obbola, SCA may reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 55,000 kg annually by deploying just one electric truck. Between Gimons Wood Terminal and Obbola Paper Mill, the truck will make six journeys each day, operating from 7 AM to 5 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Each round trip will be approximately 30 km and take 75 min (including loading and unloading). The vehicle uses an ABB charger at the Obbola paper mill, which has a 180 kW maximum output. SCA contributed the featured picture.
Do you value the unique reporting and cleantech news coverage on CleanTechnica? Consider becoming a patron on Patreon or a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador.
