Scania has unveiled a new strategy for its future fleet technology, revealing it will “leave no stone unturned” to better understand sustainable transport through new electrification and hydrogen solutions tests.
With battery-electric transport remaining unchanged as central to Scania’s sustainable transport strategy, the heavy vehicle OEM is also starting testing with customers in a Pilot Partner initiative on hydrogen solutions.
Earlier this month at Transport.CH in Bern, Switzerland, Scania showcased its collaboration with Asko Norge AS, a longstanding partner and leader in sustainable logistics, to test hydrogen fuel cell trucks in business operations, in order to evaluate technical performance, operational feasibility and commercial potential.
Although these vehicles are not yet available for order, they form part of Scania’s broader Pilot Partner programme, an initiative the company has established with selected customers that aims to assess electrification technology and various other solutions under daily conditions to see what they can contribute to fossil-free transport.
“By testing in real transport environments, we learn what works best in practice and how to accelerate progress,” head of Scania Pilot partner Tony Sandberg says.
MORE OWNERDRIVER TRENDING STORIES:
- $6 million national transport fleet to be auctioned after recent administration
- TOTM: Gavin Turner’s birthday bulldog
- Inside magnificent Casino’s 2025 triumph
- Elphinstone founder reaches the Wall of Fame
- QMR welcomes statement DAF
Scania says the hydrogen vehicle test won’t change its transport decarbonisation strategy revolving around direct electrification. However, it is one of several tests being conducted through the Pilot Partner programme to understand how different energy carriers and powertrains can perform.
By combining Scania’s established electric powertrain technology with hydrogen systems, Scania and Asko have initially found that the trucks can reach ranges of up to 1,000 kilometres per refuelling, emitting only water vapour.
“Being part of Scania’s Pilot Partner initiative gives us a unique opportunity to test and influence the development of sustainable solutions that fit our operations,” ASKO Midt CEO Jørn Arvid Endresen says.
Scania Pilot Partner initiative, established in 2021, is the company’s dedicated collaboration for innovation with selected customers. Scania Pilot Partner evaluates and tests a wide range of technologies and methods, from battery-electric solutions – which remain the company’s strategic focus – to combustion engines powered by range extender and emerging alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells.
“This is where innovation meets application,” Sandberg says.
“By working side by side with customers, we turn pilots into progress and strengthen Scania’s role in leading the shift towards a sustainable transport system.”
Subscribe to the weekly Owner//Driver newsletter here.