Horse Powertrain has partnered with Scania to develop a new range-extender system for a pilot heavy-duty timber lorry in Sweden. This project is part of Scania’s Pilot Partner programme, collaborating with SCA, a leading forestry company. The lorry, built for Sweden’s demanding timber routes, features a battery-electric drivetrain and a generator from Horse Powertrain’s Aurobay Technologies, enabling long-distance journeys and lowering CO₂ emissions.
The pilot route covers approximately 16 km, with a goal of 7 to 8 trips daily, aiming to achieve slightly better productivity than fully battery-electric vehicles by reducing charging times. The truck is equipped with a 120-kW range extender powered by a high-efficiency 2.0-litre multi-fuel engine, which serves as an onboard charger during long trips or challenging conditions.
Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain, underlined the significance of this technology in forestry logistics, emphasising the need for strength, range, and reliability. Ingo Scholten, CTO of Horse Powertrain, mentioned that the pilot will generate valuable data to improve this technology for heavy-duty transport.
The range-extender system uses core technology from its passenger car hybrids, adapted for heavy-duty use, helping decarbonisation efforts by lowering emissions significantly without needing extensive infrastructure.
- For more on this, you can visit the Horse Powertrain website here: https://horse-powertrain.com/
Key Points…
- Partnership for Sustainable Heavy-Duty Transport: Horse Powertrain and Scania have collaborated on developing a new range-extender system for a pilot heavy-duty timber lorry in Sweden to reduce CO₂ emissions and support forestry logistics.
- Design and Features of the Timber Lorry: The electric lorry has a battery-electric drivetrain with a 120-kW range extender and a 2.0-litre multi-fuel engine, designed for long-distance journeys and improved productivity.
- Pilot Route and Operational Goals: The 16 km route enables 7-8 trips daily, balancing efficiency and reducing charging times compared to fully battery-electric vehicles, thereby optimising forestry transport operations.
- Significance of Range-Extender Technology: This system, adapted from passenger hybrid technology, provides high strength and reliability for heavy-duty applications while significantly reducing emissions without requiring extensive infrastructure.
- Experts’ Remarks and Future Impact:** Horse Powertrain leaders emphasise the importance of reliability, and the data from this pilot will help enhance heavy-duty hybrid technology for sustainable transport.
