Scania introduces hybrid and plug-in hybrid truck powertrains

Scania has launched a new range of hybrid and plug-in hybrid trucks that can reduce fuel consumption by up to 40%.

Available in P, G and L series cabs, the new trucks can be specified as rigids and as tractors.

Scania’s GE281 hybrid system can be paired with its existing 7.0-litre and 9.0-litre combustion engines. It incorporates two electric motors with the truck maker’s latest Opticruise gearbox.

Hybrid models use a 30kWh battery, while the plug-in hybrid uses a 90kWh unit. The latter has a silent zero-emission driving range of 37 miles and can be recharged in 35 minutes.

In both models the electric motors support the combustion engine at take-off and acceleration, meaning the combustion engine can be downsized in both volume and power output. Fuel savings of up to 40% can be achieved, according to Scania, in city areas, compared with traditional powertrains.

“The GE281 is something brand new in the heavy truck industry,” said 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.”

Scania’s GE281 offers 313PS continuously and 394kW as peak power output, while the maximum torque is 2,100Nm. It has six forward gears but no traditional clutch, since a planetary gear takes care of that process, providing torque interruption-free gear shifts.

“The driving experience can actually be compared with what you get in a passenger car with a dual-clutch system,” added Allard. “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’s new hybrid trucks feature a Power Take Off­ (PTO) that can be used while driving, even in full electric gearbox-driven mode. They also offer start/stop functionality that eliminates unnecessary idling and provide support systems such as Scania Adaptive Cruise Control with Active Prediction.

A hybrid truck with a down­sized engine – from DC09 to DC07 – will have a payload that is 250Kg higher compared to its ICE sibling. The hybrid system adds a net weight of 750Kg, while one tonne of extra weight is allowed for electric vehicles in the EU.