Södra invests in an electric truck for transporting woodchips

In an ambitious move towards a sustainable future, Södra, Sweden's largest forest owners' association, recently announced a major investment in a long-haul electric truck for the daily transportation of wood chips. This initiative represents an important step in Södra's long-term strategy to transition to completely fossil-free transportation, marking a significant turning point in reducing the carbon footprint associated with its logistical operations.

The electric woodchip truck, supplied by Scania, can only be charged with sustainably produced electricity without the use of fossil fuels. This approach not only underlines Södra's commitment to protecting the environment, but also emphasizes the essential role that road transport plays in the Swedish forest industry.

Truck transportation accounts for about 5 percent of Södra's fossil CO₂ emissions, including indirect emissions. By implementing this woodchip transportation truck in the Swedish regions of Blekinge and Småland, Södra is taking a significant step towards a fossil-free future.

The electric truck is expected to be delivered towards the end of 2024 and will be tested under real-world conditions between 2025 and 2027. The goal is for it to travel about 100,000 kilometers per year, which equates to about 400 kilometers per day. In order to facilitate loading during normal operations, Södra plans to considerably expand the loading infrastructure at its plants in Mörrum, Mönsterås, Orrefors and Långasjö during the coming year.

Henrik Brodin, project manager of "A fossil-free Södra" (A Fossil-Free Södra), emphasized this important milestone: "The electric truck for woodchip transportation is an important milestone in our efforts to electrify our truck fleet and is all the more valuable as it is directly integrated into our daily transportation operations. The project will provide us with valuable lessons learned and contribute to Södra's overall goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040."

The truck, a Scania 45R with a load capacity of up to 64 tons and an estimated range of 250 to 300 km, is ideal for regional transport operations in eastern Småland. Equipped with three integrated electric motors and 624 kWh of battery power, the truck promises outstanding performance with low charging time.

The initiative is part of the TREE project, coordinated by the Swedish Forest Research Institute (Skogforsk), which aims to have 50% of new truck sales in the forestry industry accounted for by battery-electric vehicles by 2030.

"It is clear that a major shift towards electrified and fossil-free road transportation is underway. It will be interesting to see how the electric woodchip truck will integrate into Södra's daily production operations," added Patrik Svanberg from Scania Sverige AB.

Founded in 1938 on the principle that together we are stronger, Södra is now the largest forest owners' association in Sweden with over 50,000 members. In 2023, Södra members generated sales of SEK 29 billion (EUR 2.53 billion).

Scania is a world leader in providing transportation solutions. Founded in 1891, Scania It now operates in more than 100 countries and employs around 57,000 people. In 2022, Scania's sales were about SEK 170 billion (€14.81 billion).

Source Södra