Scania, CO2
Even in heavy commercial transport, battery-powered vehicles emit less CO2 than thermal vehicles over the entire life cycle (LCA): this is the result of the research carried out by the first manufacturer of heavy vehicles Scania with the aim of evaluating the actual impact environmental protection of battery-powered vehicles. Let's not forget that the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method defined by the ISO 14040/44 standard to calculate the environmental impacts of products taking into account the entire life cycle, starting therefore from the extraction and refining of raw materials up to recovery. .Scania has published the CO2 assessment for the entire life cycle, stressing that the environmental impact of its battery electric vehicles is significantly lower than that of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. In detail, the study examined a truck used for 500,000 km in a distribution cycle with an average payload of 6.1 tons.
At a time when the number of battery electric vehicles we have to ask ourselves whether these are truly environmentally sustainable when we consider their entire life cycle. The impact generated does not derive from exhaust emissions, for this reason the industry must rethink what is meant by environmental impact. With this study, we have clear answers, said Andreas Follér, Scania's head of sustainability.
Although the production of a battery electric vehicle involves a greater environmental impact, also due to the construction of the battery cells, the impact of the total life cycle on climate change is better for battery electric vehicles thanks lower carbon emissions in the use phase.
Not surprisingly, the manufacturer aims to reduce life cycle carbon emissions from 38% to 63% and to do this partnerships like the one with Northvolt are inevitably imported in order to produce the most environmentally friendly in the world.
Battery electric vehicle has the potential to have less climate impact than internal combustion engine within one to two years of operation. We expect the total cost of ownership of battery electric vehicles to be positive for the majority of our customers during this decade. The race towards zero emissions will involve decarbonising the processes and materials needed to assemble the industrial vehicles and buses of the future, Follér commented.
Scania unveils long-distance bus running on biogas
Powered by liquid biogas (LBG), the coach will reduce climate impact and contribute to a fossil-free transport between the two Nordic capitals, Scania said.New Delhi: Swedish commercial vehicle maker Scania in collaboration with mobility provider Fixbus and gas supplier Gasum unveiled its first international biogas bus.This maiden long-distance coach running on biogas will operate on the Stockholm-Oslo route, the company said in a release.
Powered by liquid biogas (LBG), the coach will reduce climate impact and contribute to fossil-free transport between the two Nordic capitals, Scania said.
Biogas is currently used in compressed form mainly by city buses, cars and light transport vehicles, but has so far been less competitive for heavy long-distance vehicles. In recent years, technology has been developed to cool the biogas to around minus 160 degrees Celsius so that it becomes liquid and thus more energy-dense. This opens up the possibility of using the gas for, among other things, heavy transport, both by land and by sea.According to Scania, the availability of biogas will improve quickly throughout Europe, especially as the EU has decided to make fuelling points available along with main European road networks (TEN-T).
Biogas is not only the fuel with the lowest CO2 emissions – but it also solves local waste problems, creates local jobs and brings carbon and nutrients back to the soil. It is the Swiss Army Knife of circular economyJonas Strömberg, Sustainability Director, Scania.
“As the first long-distance coach powered by biogas, this is probably the most sustainable coach solution today,” Johan Ekberg, head of Scania´s customer unit, said.The benefits of liquid biogas are many: it`s fossil-free, renewable, locally produced and reduces emissions. By switching to locally produced liquid biogas as fuel in long-distance trucks or buses, operators reduce their own and their customers' climate impact by more than 90%, claims the company. Air quality, in general, is also positively affected by reduced emissions of particles and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and the quieter vehicles benefit both drivers and passengers, and the society at large.
“Biogas is not only the fuel with the lowest CO2 emissions – but it also solves local waste problems, creates local jobs and brings carbon and nutrients back to the soil. It is the Swiss Army Knife of circular economy,” Jonas Strömberg, sustainability director at Scania, said.Now 17% of Europe’s gas grid is biogas, and it's rising rapidly, actively contributing to CO2 emission cuts. In Sweden´s vehicle gas grid the biogas share is a staggering 95%.
“Biogas will be one of the key tools for decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport – especially for long-distance operations like intercity and long-haulage. Half of Europe’s heavy-duty gas fleet could be powered by biogas in 2025,” Jonas Strömberg added.