Scania introduces world-class, versatile hybrid trucks

•  Scania’s latest hybrids are a stepping-stone towards full electrification

•  Increased electric power – 230 kW allows many potential applications

•  With an electric range of 60 km, PHEVs offer versatile solutions

•  GE281 is an electric machine with two electric motors, 2,100 Nm torque and a six-speed gearbox, making for fuel savings of        up to 40%

•  Potential for down-sized combustion engines, running on biodiesel

•  Fully charged in 30 minutes, with capacity for gearbox-driven PTO

•  Scania continues along its declared path for electrification, to reach its science-based carbon reduction targets and to                support the Paris Agreement

Scania is introducing Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) trucks that can be fitted with different power­train and charging options, thus offering solutions that can fulfil various demands for applications. A new electric machine, GE281, works in tandem with a Scania seven or nine-litre combus­tion engine, providing unique opportunities for creating fossil-free transport solutions for heavy trucks with demanding bodywork.

Scania’s new hybrid powertrain has been developed in-house according to the company’s modular philosophy.  By coupling two electric motors with each other and merging them with essential parts of Scania’s latest (2020) Opticruise gearbox generation, something truly new was created: GE281, a Gearbox Electric machine with seamless power trans­mission and capacity for dealing with gross vehicle weights of up to 36 tonnes without support from the combustion engine.  But it also works the other way: since the electric machine is always supporting the combustion engine at take-off and acceleration, the combustion engine can be downsized in both volume and power output. Hybridisation means fuel savings of up to 40% in city areas compared with traditional powertrains.

“The GE281 is something brand new in the heavy truck industry,” says Fredrik Allard, Senior Vice President and Head of e-mobility at Scania Sales & Marketing. “With this fourth gene­ration of hybrid trucks from Scania, we have reached a point where hybrids are strong candidates for a variety of applications and operations where sustainability and smart solu­tions are the main priorities. These new hybrids have the capacity for taking on a multi­tude of tasks and will come out on top in all kinds of relevant comparisons.”

The latest hybrid truck generation from Scania can be ordered as HEVs and as PHEVs, available in P, G and L series cabs. The trucks can be specified as rigids and as tractors. The 7-litre DC07 combustion engine is available in three power outputs, as is the 9-litre DC09 engine. All Scania Euro 6 engines can run on hydrotreated vege­table oil (HVO), and some can also run on biodiesel FAME (see chart below).

Scania’s GE281 offers 230 kW continuously and 290 kW as peak power output, while the max torque is 2,100 Nm. It has six forward gears but no traditional clutch, since a planetary gear takes care of that process, providing torque interruption-free gear shifts. This solution also provides for excellent creep drive capabilities at low speeds and the PTO can be engaged while the truck is moving, in electric as well as combustion engine mode.

“The driving experience can actually be compared with what you get in a passenger car with a dual-clutch system,” says Allard. “And with this solution, we can offer all the support functions that Scania customers are accustomed to, such as adaptive cruise control with active prediction and downhill speed control. Another improvement with this solution is that the energy recuperation during deceleration is also uninterrupted, which is important since the electric machine is the primary brake source in these vehicles.”

Scania hybrid vehicles and hybridisation

Scania is one of the few major OEMs committed to offering heavy commercial hybrid trucks. Scania was in fact pioneering this segment as early as 2014, when a first gene­ration was introduced with an electric range of up to two kilometres.

“That range of course sounds meagre today when we are offering 60 kilometres, but it was an impor­tant first step for our industry,” says Allard. “With that release, Scania started to teach both ourselves and our customers about the potential for zero tailpipe emis­sions, silent mode and substantial fuel saving from the hybrid solution. With the GE281, we have reached a new level. The electric machine equals or often exceeds what the com­bustion engine can offer, thus creating the opportunity to downsize the internal combustion (ICE) engine and save both fuel and weight. The ICE is only motivated by its capability to offer the range needed when travelling longer legs between different assignments.”

Scania’s new HEV/PHEV generation offers drivability on a new level; not only is it power­ful, it also comes with all the options and opportunities that customers ask for. It offers a­ PTO that can be used while driving, even in full electric gearbox-driven mode. It offers start/stop functionality that eliminates unnecessary idling and it provides support systems such as Scania Adaptive Cruise Control with Active Prediction. It also comes with different drive modes. When the “Power” mode is selected, some extra 100 hp (or 74 kW) is added on top of the combustion engine’s peak performance.

“It is a mature and fully-fledged product,” says Allard. “It offers all the capabilities and func­tions that you expect from a Scania, while also offering electrification, the oppor­tunity to run the combustion engine on renewable fuels, and substantial fuel savings. We do believe that these kinds of trucks will eventually be replaced by battery-electric vehicles. But until long electric-powered ranges and relevant charging infrastruc­tures are available in all markets, there is definitely a window during this decade for hybrids.”

The PHEV has an installed battery capacity of 90 kWh (3 x 30 kWh batteries), while the HEV version has one 30 kWh battery. The PHEV can be fully charged in 35 minutes when using a 95 kW DC charger. That means the vehicle can be charged at depots and during breaks or loading sessions (known as 'opportunity charging'). A hybrid truck with a down­sized engine – from DC09 to DC07 – will actually have a payload that is 250 kg higher compared to its ICE sibling; the hybrid will only add a net weight of 750 kg, while one tonne of extra weight is allowed for electric vehicles in the EU. 

The level of fuel savings that can be achieved from this modular Scania solution differs according to the usual factors, such as the operation itself, how hilly the route is, and how many start and stops there are. The electric machine is always active, but the extra help from it is less useful when at cruising speed on motorways. The most substantial fuel saving is achieved in urban traffic, where some customers will save up to 40%.  Scania also offers regular repair and maintenance contracts for these hybrid vehicles.

Major cities such as Paris and Amsterdam are implementing strict emission, noise and safety zones. This means that progressive haulers who want to stay relevant and competitive are turning their minds towards fossil-free and electric solutions that are available here and now.

“These Scania hybrids are a smart way to make great strides towards full electrification and a sustainable transport system,” says Ema Ceco, Product Manager e-mobility, Scania Sales & Marketing. “They also offer the best of what is available today when it comes to flexibility and usability. The engines are equals from a power-output per­spective. Using only the electric machine in sensitive urban areas does not mean you suffer from a loss of power. For instance, a Scania L 280 6x2*4 PHEV would make for a perfect city tipper in dense urban areas; fully capable of running in electric mode where zero emissions and noise levels below 72 dB are required.”