Scania Australia marked its return to the Brisbane Truck Show for the first time since 2019 in fine fashion, displaying three powerful 6×4 prime movers to onlookers.
Leading the charge for the European OEM in Brisbane was its ‘King of the Road’ prime mover – featuring a 16.4L, 770hp V8 engine, the model served as the biggest cab seen on a Scania in Australia in many years. The largest S-series cab to date arrived with a completely flat floor while also boasting a high roof and extended length cab to create additional space in various directions.
The 770 S was at the front and centre of Scania’s display, sitting in front of a glowing red backdrop as the crowds began to mill about the Scania site. It stood out as an impressive behemoth of a prime mover, but the 770 S was ably supported by two fellow prime movers that ensured Scania made a major statement in its Brisbane Truck Show return.
The 560 G also gleamed in the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre light, commanding its own presence from show-goers. The model is powered by the highest output new generation DOHC six-cylinder SUPER engine, delivering 560hp and 2800Nm of torque.
If this raw power wasn’t enough, the 500 P capped off the triumphant trio, with the low entry cab also now available with the most powerful engine to date in the P-series fitted.
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Yet Scania Australia didn’t cap its sparkling return to the leading truck show in the southern hemisphere to just these three trucks. At the OEM’s space was an all-new display stand that featured comfortable customer lounges and areas dedicated to Scania services including finance, aftersales and safety.
Much has changed since Scania Australia last appeared in Brisbane in 2019 – regulations, technology and economic constraints. Scania’s own line-up and capabilities have also evolved, highlighted by a significant rise in sales of its safe, efficient and technically advanced trucks.
However, shipping delays meant Scania’s latest technological marvel couldn’t make it to Brisbane on time, with its brand new fully electric prime mover tailored to Australian conditions missing out on a berth at the show. Instead, it sat marooned on a ship outside Fremantle on the other side of the country.
The special evaluation 40 GBEV was commissioned by Scania’s Australian arm from the factory, with the aim being to launch it at Brisbane and then start the roll-out of an enlarged BEV line-up of vehicles in Australia.
While the Scania Australia team handled the disappointment well, they remained committed to spreading the word of the mysterious new electric truck set to hit the Australian market.
“We are disappointed not to be able to show off the 40 G BEV into which we have poured a lot of effort, but we will do our best to expose the truck to interested parties in the short term,” Scania Australia managing director Manfred Streit said.
“While we are keen to promote BEVs in this market, we remain clear-eyed about the role our BEV trucks will play in Australia in the foreseeable future.
“Scania has done the hard and expensive R&D work to create a functionally viable range of BEVs, but BEVs must exist in a viable ecosystem of charging networks and affordable electricity to make commercial sense for operators to switch to EV power.”
The 40 G will soon be shown off to prospective customers in more private arenas once it reaches dry land. The model comes powered by a 416kWh battery pack and uses the latest generation 400kW electric machine with an integrated four-speed gearbox to provide useable real-world range and payload options.
Across the street from the Brisbane Truck Show’s main hall was Scania’s Dunk Truck. The special P-series rigid was fitted out with a basketball ring and accompanying 10sqm Dream Courts’ flooring at ‘The Depot’ area, providing aspiring technicians and transport industry workers the opportunity to shoot some hoops while learning about career opportunities with Scania.
With sustainability clearly on Scania’s mind through an avenue of options, such as biodiesel, it may be an ideal time to jump onboard the OEM as it prepares to launch more technology into Australia.
“If you look at the overarching goal of reducing emissions, we can make a much bigger shorter-term impact by cutting CO2 by as much as 80 per cent by switching existing diesel engines to run on B100 biodiesel or HVO fuels,” Streit said.
“Across the country there are thousands of Scania trucks, new and used that can run on these fuels with little or no adjustment, and the emissions savings would be significant, with no payload, range or initial cost compromises of BEVs. It’s a message we will be spreading far and wide, especially now that supplies of HVO in particular are becoming more readily available.
“We have options for operators who want to make a decisive reduction in the CO2 emissions of their fleets: they can opt for our now enlarged and modular tailored BEV chassis programme, or they can stay with ICE technology they know and trust, and total operating economy that they understand from years of experience, while still making a significant contribution to the cleaning of our atmosphere by switching to B100 or HVO.”
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