Scania Introduces a Range-Extender Internal Combustion Engine for Its Electric Truck

The transition to fully electric long-haul transportation continues to face significant challenges, including a lack of charging infrastructure, high depot costs for peak-season power demands, grid constraints, and fluctuating electricity prices, particularly during windless winter days.

To address these issues, Scania and DHL have introduced the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), a hybrid-like solution designed to operate 80–90% on renewable energy while overcoming the limitations of current battery-electric trucks.

How It Works
Instead of relying solely on batteries, the EREV replaces one battery pack with a fuel-powered generator, which provides additional energy when needed. This setup slightly reduces the electric-only driving range but ensures a reliable backup power source, allowing for a total range of 650–800 kilometers. Unlike a purely electric truck, the EREV can refuel at standard petrol stations, making it a more flexible alternative for regions with underdeveloped charging networks.

With a maximum gross weight of 40 tons, the EREV is powered by a 230 kW electric motor (295 kW peak power), a 416 kWh battery, and a 120 kW generator. Initially running on gasoline, the generator will later support diesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as fuel options.

Key Features and Advantages
Comparable range to Scania’s latest fully electric truck (550 km) while carrying the same load capacity
Built primarily as a battery-electric truck, with engine-powered recharging occurring only when necessary
Software-limited fuel usage to minimize CO₂ emissions
Maximum speed: 89 km/h
Cargo capacity: approximately 1,000 packages (swap-body volume), with the ability to tow an additional swap-body trailer
Developed in collaboration with Scania Pilot Partner and DHL, the EREV serves as a promising interim solution for reducing CO₂ emissions in regions where fully electric transport infrastructure remains insufficient. By offering greater operational flexibility and significantly lowering emissions compared to conventional diesel trucks, the EREV bridges the gap between traditional and fully electric freight transport.