In an innovative collaboration between Scania, the University of Uppsala, Eksjö Maskin & Truck, Midsummer, Ernsts Express, and Dalakraft, a 560hp R-series plug-in hybrid truck towing a semi-trailer with side walls covered with solar panels is being tested.
According to Ruta del Transporte, this experiment is currently being tested in real-world traffic conditions.
Solar-Powered Truck
Covering an impressive 100 square meters, the solar panels installed on the side walls of the 18-meter-long, four-axle semi-trailer are equivalent in power generation to what one might find on a residential rooftop.
Scania, the driving force behind this project, estimates that in Sweden, this solar-powered vehicle could cover approximately 5,000 kilometers solely on energy harvested from the sun annually. This range could potentially double in sunnier countries, such as Spain, due to increased sunlight hours.
The primary goal of this endeavor is to conduct in-depth research into the energy generated by solar panels and quantify the reduction in carbon emissions. Pioneering lightweight and efficient solar panels designed specifically for trucks are under scrutiny.
Researchers are also exploring how these solar-powered trucks can interact with the electrical grid, investigating the implications if a fleet of such vehicles were integrated into the grid.
Erik Johansson, Project Director and Professor of Physical Chemistry at Uppsala University, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that this project aims to reduce the environmental impact of truck transportation.
The research initiative additionally encompasses a study of advanced tandem solar cells, a combination of Midsummer solar cells and innovative perovskite solar cells.
This technology promises enhanced efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity, potentially doubling the energy generation capabilities in contrast to current solar panels.
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Electrification Is the Future
Lars Evertsson, General Director of Ernsts Express, the company responsible for testing the vehicle in actual traffic conditions, emphasized the project's significance within the broader context of the transportation industry's challenges.
He explained that the entire industry faces substantial challenges, particularly in terms of fuel. He believes that electrification through renewable electricity is the future.
This solar-powered truck project has been initiated within the framework of a research program funded by Vinnova, Sweden's government innovation agency. The overarching aim is to develop low-impact climate trucks that harness the potential of solar energy.
The solar panels integrated into this project are characterized by their thin, lightweight, and flexible design, boasting a maximum energy efficiency of 13.2 kWp (kilowatt peak).
In the Swedish operating conditions, these panels are estimated to yield a substantial 8,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually.
The vehicle is equipped with a total battery capacity of 300 kWh, distributed between 100 kWh in the truck and 200 kWh in the semi-trailer.
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