Ahola Transport’s first all-electric truck for cross-border traffic

Ahola Transport’s firm commitment to sustainability will continue when the company introduces Finland’s first all-electric truck for regular cross-border traffic.

 

The full truck and trailer combination was presented for the first time at a media event in Naantali during the Midsummer week and is scheduled to enter service in June. The new combination can handle transports with a total combination weight of 64 tonnes between Sweden and Finland.

 

Piloting and introducing new forms of energy is part of the company’s ambitious sustainability strategy and Way Ahead attitude. The all-electric Scania will be used on a pilot basis in traffic between Finland and Sweden. The pilot project will collect important data, such as the use and range of the truck in real-life conditions.

 

The green transition needs to take into account the development of charging infrastructure

 

A sufficiently comprehensive charging network is essential for successful cross-border operations; Ahola Transport sees the development of charging infrastructure in cooperation with stakeholders as one of the company’s key investments in the coming years.

 

 

“We want our operations to run smoothly also with electric trucks, and that’s why we want to be heavily involved in developing the charging infrastructure as well,” says Managing Director of Ahola Transport Åke Nyblom. “This way we can ensure that the charging infrastructure fits the nature of our business, which is not based on terminal networks but on direct customer-to-customer transport.”

 

Reducing emissions in multiple ways

 

Ahola Transport has been developing its dynamic logistics concept for years and has managed to reduce two-thirds of emissions using digital tools alone. Optimisation of routes and filling degree, modern vehicles and eco-driving are examples of the range of measures that have led to the current level of emission reductions.

 

Now the focus is on emission reductions for the remaining third. The emission reduction targets are expected to be met through a wide range of measures, with the introduction of new forms of energy as a key method. Based on its experience and calculations, Ahola Transport sees the greatest potential in terms of lifecycle emissions in electricity.

 

 

Internal effects of change

 

The transition to electric vehicles will also bring new dimensions to transport planning and the work of operational staff, who will have to take into account, for example, charging times and new invoicing criteria. At the same time, the ERP system developed in-house must be updated to reflect the changes brought about by new forms of energy.

 

The daily work of the driver will also change with the introduction of electric vehicles. The importance of foresight and planning is highlighted in the driver’s seat. Weather conditions, route choices and load weight all contribute to the operating range of an electric vehicle.

 

“We are currently gathering information and valuable lessons from all this through a pilot project,” Nyblom sums up. “The whole logistics chain and how it is managed needs to be considered in a slightly new way when working with electronic equipment.”

 

“The first electric truck and trailer combination in cross-border traffic is a step into the electric age,” Nyblom adds. “We are not going on this journey alone, but with our partners, customers and other stakeholders. The information gathered will also benefit our partners and strengthen the network’s collective knowledge and contribute to an efficient green transition for heavy vehicles.”

 

 

*The newly launched electric Scania is part of the ACE project.

The Heavy Traffic Emissions Reduction work package of the ACE project is part of the Climate Solutions Accelerator ACE project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), which receives funding from the European Union’s LIFE program.

LIFE22-IPC-FI-ACE LIFE. Co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed, however, belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or CINEA. The European Union or the granting authority cannot be held responsible for them.