Scania is to participate in a major feasibility study into the operation of long-haul electrified trucks utilising dynamic charging provided by overhead wires on electric roads.

This will be the first study of its type to take place in the UK, the aim being to demonstrate to readiness of the technology for a national roll-out.

Siemens Mobility, Costain, The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (Cambridge University and Heriot-Watt University), ARUP, Milne Research, SPL Powerlines, CI Planning, BOX ENERGI and Possible are also part of the study.

The study is part of the £20 million put aside by the British Government for zero-emission road-freight trials under the recently-announced Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

The consortium involved in the study has proposed an electric road system using the Siemens Mobility ‘eHighway’ technology, as the fastest, lowest carbon and most cost-effective route to decarbonising the British road freight industry and delivering cleaner air.

The nine-month study commences this month and is hoped to be the forerunner of a scheme that aims to see the UK’s major roads served by overhead lines by the 2030s.

“Electrifying road freight is key in the UK’s journey to zero net emissions,” said James Armstrong, managing director for Scania Great Britain.

“As in similar studies in Germany, Sweden and Italy, these eHighways allow specially-adapted trucks to attach to the overhead wires and run using the electricity, similar to rail and trolley-bus systems,” he said.

“The trucks from Scania come equipped with a battery that charges while they are in motion so they can detach to both overtake vehicles and reach their final destination with zero emissions from start to finish.”