By: Tim Tomassen
The 18-metre long trailer of this hybrid truck is covered with thin solar panels and is now taking to the public roads in Sweden.
Anyone who ever drives on the highway in the sun knows that it can get quite hot in the car. Truck manufacturer Scania wants to use that solar energy to power its hybrid trucks while driving. The first tests on public roads have now started.
10,000 kilometers free
The hybrid experimental truck has a power output of 560 horsepower and an 18-metre long trailer covered with 100 square meters of thin, flexible and lightweight solar panels developed especially for this project. They provide an estimated 8,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year when used in Sweden. That is good for about 5,000 kilometers that the truck can drive entirely on solar energy.
And those numbers apply to Sweden, which is not too sunny. In sun-drenched Spain, the researchers expect that the panels can generate twice as much energy and that the truck can therefore drive 10,000 kilometers per year 'free'.
'Exciting project'
The truck is the result of a two-year research collaboration between Scania, Uppsala University and several energy and transport companies. “This is an exciting project in which academia and industry are working together to reduce the climate impact of trucking,” said Erik Johansson, project manager and professor of physical chemistry at Uppsala University.
The truck is now being tested on public Swedish roads by the transport company Ernsts Express AB. These tests will show how much emissions the solar truck will save.
Watch the video below for more details about the truck:
https://youtu.be/J-p_dK1h-iQ
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This is such a brilliant project
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This is fantastic👏Imagine a world with all trucks with solar panels.💚💚
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Great Innovation.
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A great collaboration - with a great result!
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These solar-equipped trucks offer impressive potential, not just for emissions reduction but also for potential cost savings in transportation operations.
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Interesting!!clean energy is being sustain all the way for suitable future
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Fantastic! There is no limits on clean energy solutions
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impressive
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Clean energy for the earth sustainability
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Wow! This was unimaginable some years ago, solar technology has come a looong way, great job Scania!
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Absolutely an amazing project