Skip to content

Scania tables fuel cells for now as BEV shows promise

It believes battery electric solutions will meet the truck sector's short-term needs, with hydrogen serving only niche applications. By Freddie Holmes

Scania made headlines in January when it announced a new commitment to battery electric solutions while seemingly shunning hydrogen. Battery powertrains would be “the main tool” to achieving transport decarbonisation, the truckmaker said, and would gradually overtake the company’s fossil and biofuel solutions in most applications.

Special report: Fuel cell electric trucks

The general consensus seems to be that hydrogen fuel cell powertrains make sense for long-distance trucking in particular, but Scania believes battery electric solutions will be enough, at least over the next decade or so. It is one of very few truckmakers to put hydrogen on ice as it turns its attention to near-term battery-powered solutions.

The argument is that battery powertrains are readily available, scalable and less expensive than a fuel cell solution, although research has shown that total system costs for long-distance solutions are comparable. The truckmaker also has concerns around the generation of clean hydrogen, and the overall efficiency of converting renewable energy into truck fuel.

Scania BEV truck tested in cooperation with ASKO
Scania will deliver 75 battery electric trucks to ASKO by 2022; the Swedish retailer also has a handful of fuel cell trucks on trial

Scania has no bias here: it already

It’s time to log in (or subscribe).

Not a member? Subscribe now and let us help you understand the future of mobility.

Pro
£495/year
or £49.50/month
1 user
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
no
OEM Tracker
no
OEM Model Plans
no
OEM Production Data
no
OEM Sales Data
no
Pro+
£1,950/year
or £195/month
1 user
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes
Pro+ Team
£3,950/year
or £395/month
Up to 5 users
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes
Pro+ Enterprise
Unlimited
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes

Welcome back , to continue browsing the site, please click here