Transport accounts for more than a third of Sweden's CO2 emissions, with almost half of these coming from freight transport. As part of its climate protection strategy, Sweden has committed to a fossil fuel-free transport sector by 2030. Due to the growth in freight transport, road transport is expected to expand as rail capacity increases. A solution to decarbonize freight transport is therefore essential. During a two-year trial, the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and the county of Gävleborg aim to establish a knowledge base to determine whether Siemens' eHighway system is suitable for long-term commercial use and future deployment. “Most goods transported in Sweden are carried by road, and only a limited portion can be transported by other means. Therefore, trucks must be freed from their dependence on fossil fuels so they can be used in the future as well. Electric roads offer this possibility and are an excellent complement to the transport system,” says Anders Berndtsson, head of strategy at the Swedish Transport Administration.
The core of the system is an intelligent pantograph combined with a hybrid propulsion system. A sensor system allows the pantograph to connect to and disconnect from the overhead power line at speeds of up to 90 km/h.
Trucks equipped with the system can draw power from overhead catenary cables while driving, enabling efficient, zero-emission travel. Thanks to the hybrid system, off-line operation is also possible, maintaining the flexibility of conventional trucks. The eHighway technology features an open configuration. As a result, battery or natural gas solutions, for example, can be implemented as an alternative to the diesel hybrid drive system used in Sweden. This allows the system to be flexibly adapted to the specific application.
