Scania has partnered with its long-standing partner, Asko Norge AS, to test hydrogen fuel cell trucks in business operations.
While Scania’s core focus of its sustainable transport strategy is battery-electric transport, it says this collaboration is aligned to its strategy of keeping abreast with other technologies and combinations.
Scania said it is continuing to investigate other power sources to better understand all forms of sustainable transport, as evidenced by its Pilot Partner research programme with Asko.
Earlier this month at Transport.CH in Bern, Switzerland, Scania teamed up with Asko Norge AS, a leader in sustainable logistics, to conduct a range of tests on hydrogen fuel cell trucks to evaluate technical performance, operational feasibility, and commercial potential.
The hydrogen-fuelled vehicles are not yet available for order, but are part of Scania’s broader Pilot Partner programme, centred around fossil-free transport.
That programme sees Scania working with selected customers to assess the efficacy of electrification technology and various other solutions under daily conditions.
“By testing in real transport environments, we learn what works best in practice and how to accelerate progress,” said Head of Scania Pilot Partner, Tony Sandberg.
The hydrogen vehicle test is one of several tests being conducted through the Pilot Partner programme to understand how different energy carriers and power trains perform.
The aim is to see which real-life strengths and weaknesses other technologies and fuels exhibit.
By combining Scania’s established electric powertrain technology with hydrogen systems, Scania and Asko have initially found that the trucks can reach ranges of up to 1,000 kilometres per refuelling, emitting only water vapour.
The two companies’ collaboration illustrates how partnerships drive practical progress in sustainable transport.
“Being part of Scania’s Pilot Partner initiative gives us a unique opportunity to test and influence the development of sustainable solutions that fit our operations,” says ASKO Midt CEO, Jørn Arvid Endresen.
Scania’s Tony Sandberg said: “Asko’s strong commitment and proactive approach are key to accelerating the transition.
“Together, we turn insights from pilots into practical knowledge that benefits the whole industry.”
Scania’s Pilot Partner initiative, which was established in 2021, is the company’s dedicated collaboration for innovation with selected customers.
Scania Pilot Partner evaluates and tests a wide range of technologies and methods, from battery-electric solutions – which remain the company’s strategic focus – to combustion engines powered by range extender and emerging alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells.
By testing these solutions in real operations, Scania and its partners gain valuable insights into how different technologies perform in practice, supporting customers in their own transition to decarbonised transport.
Every Pilot Partner project is viewed as a hands-on learning platform where Scania and its customers evaluate and refine sustainable transport solutions in real operations.
The insights gained help validate technology performance, operational efficiency, and total cost of ownership, Scania says.
“This is where innovation meets application,” says Sandberg.
“By working side by side with customers, we turn pilots into progress and strengthen Scania’s role in leading the shift towards a sustainable transport system.”
Read about hydrogen being used in Australia’s transport sector.
