Verdalskalk is first in Norway with a 64-tonne electric Scania truck
30 NOVEMBER 2022
Northern Europe's largest active limestone quarry, known as Tromsdalen, is located in the valley 250 m above sea level and 21 km east of Verdal harbour. Between the quarry and the harbour, Verdalskalk transports 1.5 million tonnes of lime annually. The operation runs in two shifts between 6 in the morning and 11 in the evening on a 42 km round trip - now a Scania 45P will be put into regular operations on this route, with a total weight of 64 tonnes.
Verdalskalk has been driving with grade A on the driver's assessment for a long time. This means that the committed drivers have driven as efficiently and used as little fuel as possible. Now Ketil Aksnes, Operations Manager at Verdalskalk, wants to take the environmental measures one step further with an electric vehicle combination.
"We will be the first transporter in Norway to test electric trucks in the heavy vehicle segment with up to 66 tonnes. We have a goal to be an active contributor to the green shift. To work hand in hand with Scania and be a Pilot Partner gives us a unique opportunity to get started with this. We are proud to be the first in Norway with an electric heavy vehicle in this segment, and we see that our driving route is excellent in terms of testing regeneration," says Ketil Aksnes.
The Scania 45P will go on a fixed route between the limestone quarry at the top of Tromsdalen with a full load on the vehicle, and drive to the harbour. On the way down, the driver will be able to recharge the batteries by regenerating power from the engine brake. From the harbor and back up to the quarry, the vehicle doesn’t carry any load.
Aksnes continues: ”A separate supercharging station will be installed at the harbor and we will have to calculate ´refueling´ three to four times during two shifts. The charging time is estimated to be 15-20 minutes each time.”
"We really appreciate that we have been able to work with Verdalskalk on this project. It is important to get started with heavy electric vehicles as well. The industry needs this experience so that we can roll out more transport solutions as the technology is ready," says John Lauvstad, Sustainability, Marketing & Branding Director at Norsk Scania.
"We are looking forward to it, and many of our drivers have signed up as 'electric pilots'", says Aksnes in conclusion.
The vehicle is planned to be put into daily operation towards the end of February 2023.
