Hybrid truck enables smart night time deliveries in Stockholm

Scania’s newly-launched plug-in hybrid truck is now being gainfully deployed in silent night time deliveries to McDonald’s restaurants in Stockholm. Due to noise restrictions, downtown deliveries are normally not permitted in the Swedish capital.

The trials are being carried out within the framework of the EU initiative Civitas Eccentric in collaboration with the City of Stockholm, McDonald’s and its logistics partner HAVI, Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology, and Scania.

Automatic adjustments in predefined zones

The truck is connected and utilises the position-based geofencing Scania Zone service to assist the driver and reduce disturbances from traffic in urban centres. When entering predefined zones, the vehicle automatically adjusts to existing regulations, such as emission standards and adherence to speed limits.

Since the plug-in hybrid can drive silently up to 10 kilometres in fully electric mode, deliveries can be carried out on near-empty streets at night. With normal restrictions, most retail deliveries are scheduled for mornings before the start of business, and trucks are consequently caught in rush hour traffic. The City of Stockholm has exempted these delivery trials from the night time ban.

Reduces carbon emissions by up to 90 percent

The truck utilises HVO, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, as fuel during the 22-kilometre journey from HAVI’s warehouse to downtown Stockholm, which reduces carbon emissions by up to 90 percent. When entering the city centre, the vehicle automatically switches to electric propulsion triggered by the Scania Zone service.

The battery is charged both through regenerative braking that captures kinetic energy and external charging. At one of the restaurants, a vehicle charger has been installed to boost energy during loading, unloading and driver breaks.

“This solution combines the best of two worlds,” says Camilla Eklöf, Safety & Environmental Manager at HAVI in Sweden. The truck drives silently and emission-free in sensitive urban areas, but can also travel with a full load on motorways without range limits with minimal carbon emission thanks to biofuel.”

The Civitas Eccentric EU initiative focuses on innovative solutions for sustainable mobility of people in suburban city districts and emission free freight logistics in urban centres. The initiative involves Stockholm, Madrid,  Spain, Munich, Germany, Ruse, Bulgaria and Turku, Finland.