Scania can now configure a battery-electric tractor for up to 447 miles (720 km) of range by mounting additional battery packs behind the cab, according to the company. The Swedish truckmaker says the layout, combined with chassis-mounted batteries and Megawatt Charging System (MCS) charging, targets European long-haul assignments where range, payload, and charging time have limited electrification. Two MP20 packs behind the cab add approximately 356 kWh of installed capacity to Scania’s battery-electric truck lineup on top of the chassis and under-cab batteries, the company reports.
Highlights
- Electric range of up to 447 miles (720 km), depending on configuration and operating conditions, per Scania
- Two MP20 battery packs behind the cab add approximately 356 kWh of installed capacity in a typical configuration
- Up to 3 percent lower energy consumption when paired with Scania’s new IVD front, depending on specification and operation
- Supports selected 6×2*4 tractor configurations with standard European trailer combinations and total vehicle lengths above 54.1 feet (16.5 meters)
How Does the Behind-the-Cab Battery Layout Work?
Scania’s electric trucks have carried batteries on the chassis frame and, since earlier this year, in an under-cab module. The new option places packs in a third location, behind the cab, so installed capacity can grow without relying solely on frame-mounted batteries.
In a typical build, two MP20 packs sit behind the cab and contribute roughly 356 kWh in addition to the batteries on the chassis and under the cab. The company says this gives operators more room to balance range against payload rather than accepting a fixed trade-off.
The layout works together with Scania’s protruding IVD (Increased Vehicle Dimension) front. According to the company, the combination enables a 6×2*4 European trailer combination at maximum range even when total vehicle length exceeds 54.1 feet (16.5 meters), while maintaining turning performance and trailer compatibility.
Aerodynamic Front Cuts Energy Use
When the behind-the-cab batteries are combined with the new front, Scania reports the vehicle can reduce energy consumption by up to 3 percent, depending on specification and operation. The company attributes the gain to wind resistance accounting for a larger share of total energy use in electric trucks than in conventional vehicles.
MCS Charging for Long-Haul Schedules
The expanded battery capacity is designed to pair with MCS charging, which Scania says supports shorter and more productive charging stops on long-distance routes. The company positions the combination of behind-the-cab capacity and megawatt charging as the basis for electric long-haul tractor configurations that use standard European trailer combinations.
“Electric trucks are already part of the transport system, but long-haul operations place very different demands on range, payload and charging. With this solution, Scania is showing how those pieces can come together in a practical way for customers who want to electrify demanding long-distance routes,” said Lars Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Head of Solutions Management, Scania.
Scania frames the announcement around operational fit rather than a single specification. Long distances, heavy loads, trailer compatibility, charging strategy, and bodywork requirements all determine whether an electric truck works in daily service, the company says, and the new configuration is intended to address those factors together.
“This is not only about placing batteries in a new position on the vehicle. The larger point is what it enables: electric transport over distances that have traditionally been among the hardest to electrify, with range, payload and charging considered together from the start,” Gustafsson said.
