Södra has decided to invest in a battery-electric long-haul truck in its daily logistics chain for transporting woodchips.
Using self-produced, fossil-free electricity to charge the woodchip truck, the environmental footprint from these transport operations will be dramatically reduced. The electric woodchip truck is supplied by Scania and represents a milestone in Södra’s long-term goal of transitioning to fossil-free transportation.
Today, road transport plays a key role in the Swedish forest industry, and as one of the largest buyers of transport services, Södra has long strived to make its logistics more efficient and environmentally friendly. Truck transport accounts for about 5 percent of Södra’s fossil CO₂ emissions when indirect emissions are also included. By introducing this long-haul truck to transport woodchips in Blekinge and eastern Småland, Södra is taking an important step towards a fossil-free future.
Delivery of the battery-electric woodchip truck is expected towards the end of 2024 and the truck will be tested in real-life conditions during the 2025–2027 period. The aim is that the truck will travel about 100,000 kilometres per year, corresponding to 400 kilometres every day. Meanwhile, to facilitate charging during normal operations, the plan is to extensively expand the charging infrastructure at the mills in Mörrum, Mönsterås, Orrefors and Långasjö over the coming year. On completion of the test program, the pilot project will be evaluated to formulate a clear plan for the large-scale electrification of Södra’s entire vehicle fleet.
“This battery-electric woodchip truck is an exciting milestone in our efforts to electrify the truck fleet, not least because it is being deployed directly in our operations as part of our day-to-day transport operations. The project will teach us a great deal while contributing to Södra’s overall goal of net zero emissions by 2040. I am convinced that the test will also generate valuable insights that the entire industry can benefit from in the future,” said Henrik Brodin, Project Manager for A Fossil-Free Södra.
Part of the TREE project
The pilot project is part of the TREE project, an initiative coordinated by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk). The overarching objective of the project is to contribute to ensuring that battery-electric vehicles accounts for 50 percent of new truck sales in the forestry industry by 2030. In addition to Södra, a further 20 partners are participating in this ambitious initiative, including other forest companies, logistics companies, haulage companies, charging infrastructure companies, technology companies and universities.
The project will answer important questions regarding route optimisation and charging infrastructure, knowledge that can help Södra and its contract hauliers to reduce their costs and environmental footprint across the value chain.
TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/