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 transport of woodchips. This initiative represents an important step in Södra's long-term strategy to transition to completely fossil fuel-free transport, marking a significant turning point in reducing the carbon footprint associated with its logistics operations.

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

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

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

Henrik Brodin, managerul proiectului „O Södra fără combustibili fosili” (-, a accentuat acest moment important: „Camionul electric destinat transportului așchiilor de lemn reprezintă un moment important în eforturile noastre de electrificare a flotei de camioane și este cu atât mai valoros cu cât este integrat direct în operațiunile noastre zilnice de transport. Proiectul ne va oferi învățăminte valoroase și va contribui la obiectivul global al Södra de zero net emisii de dioxid de carbon până în 2040.”

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

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

„Este clar că este în curs o schimbare majoră către transportul rutier electrificat și fără combustibili fosili. Va fi interesant să vedem cum se va integra camionul electric pentru așchii de lemn în operațiunile de producție zilnice ale Södra,” a adăugat Patrik Svanberg de la Scania Sverige AB.

Founded in 1938 on the principle that together we are stronger, Södra is now Sweden's largest forest owners' association 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 transport solutions. Founded in 1891, Scania now operates in more than 100 countries and employs around 57,000 people. In 2022, Scania's sales were around SEK 170 billion (EUR 14.81 billion).

Source Södra