Solar panels on truck trailers will reduce fuel emissions by up to 20 percent

"SCANIA recently began tests on a solar-powered truck, a 560-horsepower plug-in hybrid truck with 100 square meters of solar panels wrapping a trailer. This unique setup now being tested on public roads in Sweden is a result of a two-year research collaboration between Scania and industry and academic partners."

"A groundbreaking solar-powered hybrid Scania truck is undergoing public road tests, resulting from a two-year research alliance involving Scania, Uppsala University, Eksjö Maskin & Truck, Midsummer, Ernsts Express, and Dalakraft. Designed with a trailer fully wrapped in solar panels, the truck aims to demonstrate a new era in reducing operational costs and carbon emissions." 

"Scania is testing a hybrid truck with a solar-panel-covered trailer that uses the sun’s energy to help propel the vehicle during trials on public roads in Sweden.

The research project looks to determine how much emissions can be reduced using the lightweight solar panels. Researchers are also looking at how the truck can interact with the power grid, potentially selling surplus solar power."

"A unique hybrid truck with a solar panel covered trailer is being tested on public roads, as a result of a two-year research collaboration involving Scania, Uppsala University, Eksjö Maskin & Truck, Midsummer, Ernsts Express, and Dalakraft." 

"Både tyska Sono Motors och nederländska Lightyear hade presenterat vad som såg ut att vara lovande projekt med elbilar som delvis kan laddas med solceller i karossen. Men inom loppet av en månad lades båda projekt ned i början av året. I alla fall Sono Motors säger sig istället vilja satsa på solcellspaneler för större fordon som lastbilar.

Just det är något som nu presenteras i ett svenskt samarbete mellan solcellstillverkaren Midsummer och lastbilstillverkaren Scania. I det används en lasbil med hybriddrivlina och ett dubbelt batteripaket på totalt 300 kWh. Det 18 meter långa släpet har täckts med 100 kvadratmeter tunna och flexibla solceller från Midsummer."

"En banbrytande teknologisk framsteg har tagit plats på de svenska vägarna när Scania, i samarbete med flera ledande aktörer, introducerar en soldriven hybridlastbil som genom solceller på släpets tak och sidor genererar egen el. Detta experiment, som förväntas markant minska både driftkostnader och utsläpp, representerar ett framsteg i riktning mot ett mer hållbart transportsystem."

"Nu ska Scanias soldrivna lastbil testas på allmän väg. Med solceller på släpets tak och sidor kan räckvidden öka med 500 mil per år.
”Vi är i framkanten i utvecklingen av nästa generations lastbilar”, säger Stas Krupenia, forskningschef på Scania i ett pressmeddelande."

"Scanias hybrid är den första lastbilen i världen där man kopplar solenergi direkt mot drivlinan. Solpanelerna på släpet ska motsvara 500 mils gratis bränsle.
– Funkar det här i Sverige, då funkar det i hela världen”, säger projektledaren Eric Falkgrim."

"A unique solar cell project will soon start at Uppsala University. A large truck will be built and covered with solar cells." 

"Fuel savings of between 5 and 10 percent per year - in Sweden. That is the goal when Scania tests solar cells on a plug-in hybrid truck."

"Together with, among others, Scania, Midsummer is participating in a development project where Midsummer's solar panels are installed on a truck trailer for commercial operation. The purpose is to test how much the electricity production from the solar panels can extend the range of electricity for a hybrid truck. Theoretical calculations show fuel savings of up to 20%. The project has received funding from Vinnova."

"How much can solar cells extend the range of a hybrid truck? It will be investigated in a project where Midsummer is responsible for the solar cells and Scania for the truck."

"Scania is currently testing a truck trailer with solar panels that will provide lower emissions."

"In a research partnership, Scania will develop a solar cell clad trailer to power a plug-in hybrid truck."

"Together with, among others, Scania, Midsummer participates in a development project where Midsummer's solar panels are installed on a truck trailer for commercial operation. The purpose is to test how much electricity production from the solar panels can extend the range of electricity for a hybrid truck. Theoretical calculations show fuel savings of up to 20% . "